British Education: English Language

We live in a world that depends on communication and collaboration.

Being able to communicate fluently in English is very valuable. Being bi-lingual in Spanish and English is a huge advantage.

Add a third or even a fourth language such as French or German and a whole world of new opportunities opens up.

All our lessons are taught in English. Right from the start in Pre-Nursery and Nursery school, teachers communicate with children in English. Even if your child does not speak English at home, they will quickly start to use the language with increasing confidence.

By the time children move into Junior school they are all reading and writing in English. In Secondary school, those children who speak English as a second language have become fluent, and the exams they sit in Years 11, 12 and 13 are the same exams that British children take in the UK. Spanish is also taught and pupils can choose to go to university in the UK or Spain.

For children that join King’s College with a lower level of English we offer an ‘Induction English’ programme, that allows them to catch up with their classmates. Similarly, we provide Spanish classes for those pupils who arrive at the school with little or no Spanish. All pupils take the IGCSE exam in Spanish at age 15, a year earlier than their counterparts in British schools.

From age 10 in Junior school, we also offer tuition in other languages. Experience tells us that children who can use two or more languages show improved cognitive abilities that help them make progress in all the subjects that they study.

Originally, we chose King’s because we wanted our children to learn English. We soon found that the British methodology helps our children to really apply their learning to all their subjects. The teachers here really know my children, how they learn and how to help them get ahead.

— Pedro, Father of 4 children at King’s College, Soto de Viñuelas ages 5, 10, 11 and 13

The best way to describe what King’s offers its pupils is by telling you our daughter’s story. She started at school without knowing a single word of English and 12 years later, she was invited to an interview at the University of Cambridge, one of the top ten universities in the world.

— Rudolph, Parent of Year 13 student from King’s College Alicante

We were concerned that our seven-year-old was not getting enough English at home, but her teacher reassured us and recommended that we continue reading Spanish stories with our daughter, which helped her with her English reading as well.

— Esmerelda and Juan, Parents of a Year 2 child at King’s College, Soto de Viñuelas