When our students reach secondary school age (ESO and Baccalaureate), our English classes begin to focus on the Cambridge ESOL examinations, although these are always optional.

Our ESO and Baccalaureate students usually come to English classes for 90 minutes per week, always with native, qualified teachers and a maximum of 5 students per group.

Methodology and dynamics of our English school

We have an English only policy in the classroom, in order that students become accustomed to hearing and speaking the language with native speakers. Teenagers are encouraged to communicate both with the teacher and among themselves only in English. This contact time in small groups is invaluable to the students, as it not only helps to build confidence and fluency but it is often the only opportunity they have to converse in English.

Personalised English classes

The level of instruction at our academy is high – students use course books that correspond to at least one academic year higher than what they are doing at school. The system works thanks to our policy of teaching a maximum of 5 students per group, which means our classes are extremely personalised, with all students receiving individual attention from the teacher. Our courses follow a progressive curriculum which develops all language skills: grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, writing and speaking – with the emphasis always on the communicative aspect of the language.

Our aim is for our students to complete their education with a level of English that will provide them with many opportunities for the future.

Students are given weekly homework, with both homework and attendance being closely monitored by the centre. At the end of each term parents receive a report which details the student’s progress and offers recommendations for improvement.

Secondary Education (ESO) / Official English Exams

Since many of our secondary school students have been with us since primary, they should now have sufficient knowledge of English to start preparing for official exams. We prepare students for the Cambridge suite of ESOL examinations (KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE), as well as other qualifications if requested (TOEFL/IELTS etc). We aim for students to have achieved a minimum level of B2 (FCE) of the European Framework of Reference for Languages, before they start university.

The course books we use at this age are specially designed to prepare for these qualifications (A2-C1), and contain all the necessary material to be able to pass the exam. From the first year of secondary school (1 ESO), we issue practice tests to all students in order to evaluate their level and progress, not only during the current academic year but also from one year to the next.

We have an excellent pass rate for these examinations each year.