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English As An Additional Language Program

Mandarin, French, Spanish

All classrooms are fitted with the latest interactive and digital facilities, served by a wireless network throughout.

The school runs a comprehensive one to one laptop programme
with students in Years 7, 8 and 9 using a school specified model and students
in later years using their own laptop to support their learning. The school has
invested in superb wireless and technical infrastructure to support students’
use of technology. Wide use is made of Wisdom, the school’s Moodle virtual
learning environment, and Google Apps for education.

Yes

Assessment

For first language English students it is not an intelligence test in any way but an assessment to make sure that we can put students in appropriate years, classes and groups and that we can provide any support or enhancement that is necessary for your child to have the best possible education. The same applies to second language speakers of English who also need to demonstrate sufficient fluency in English.

IB Diploma, IGCSE, SAT

The school’s Individual Needs (IN) faculty supports students with a range of needs.

Mainstream students who require additional assistance may be given support tailored to their individual needs in lessons or provided with discrete sessions in a range of disciplines. . In addition the school has a Learning Centre providing for 24 students with learning difficulties who receive ongoing support and may be taught separately from the mainstream for core subjects.

The school has a programme of approaches for students with strong ability through links to gifted education as well as a mentoring programme designed to develop students further who have a particular strength within subject domains or disciplines. Courses have also been developed in the school curriculum to extend these students further. Opportunities to work with other students of a similar ability are part of our programme for this group who are identified through a range of data. The school has developed a programme to aid students wishing to access Oxbridge, Ivy League and other institutions through providing guidance and support from Year 9 onwards to ensure aspirations are appropriate and supported alongside parental understanding and commitment.

The school offers many clubs and activities.

Yes

Swimming, football, netball, hockey, badminton, athletics, gymnastics, water polo, volleyball, tag rugby, basketball

2 sports halls, indoor swimming pool

Yes

West Island School is one of 21 schools run by the English Schools Foundation (ESF). The ESF was founded by Ordinance in 1967 to provide a ‘modern liberal education’ through the medium of English.
WIS distinction lies in the pursuit of high academic attainment through support, encouragement, praise and motivation. The quality of the relationship between students and teachers is outstanding as is the quality of teaching and learning. WIS believes in partnership between students, parents, teachers and support staff and view the school's cultural diversity as a means of enriching the life of the school. The school has a strong sense of deep links to the local community and engages in global action to aid others as a central mission hence “Inspiring students to become responsible global citizens”. In short, life at West Island is full of challenge and opportunity – both academic and personal.

West Island School offers a broad and balanced curriculum designed to enable students to access a range of disciplines but also to experience learning through transferable skills, a strong emphasis on experiential learning and through access to creativity, activity and service.

The school has a strong commitment to inclusion. This means a commitment to every student accessing the school and a commitment to personalisation of the curriculum and the classroom experience through differentiation and offering a range of activities within our CAS programme. It also means support and extension programmes which are designed to enable all students to succeed.

West Island School has embraced learning technology as a vital element of student learning. The school sees technology as a valuable learning tool and one which encourages collaborative learning and team work as well as aiding research skills and information literacy skills. Technology is used where appropriate and is seen as a powerful but not the sole tool to learn.