English Language Programmes

At St Peter’s, Cambridge we support our international students to enable them to achieve their academic goals.

English language support is provided through our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programme. A specialist English language programme is offered to all international students. These are New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) registered courses which lead to national qualifications.

Prep (Years 7-8),Junior students (Years 9–10) have seven hours of ESOL study a week. Senior students (Years 11–13) have four hours of ESOL a week. They study the same content as New Zealand students taking English but in specialist classes where they are able to get the extra support they need for academic success.

Our ESOL programmes prepare students for university. We aim to develop each student's English proficiency to a level that leads to successful undergraduate study in an English language university. Students can receive private tuition on a user pays basis in ESOL and other subjects. Preparation for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is also available.

Students in the ESOL programme have ESOL classes instead of taking English as a subject. For all other subjects ESOL students study in mainstream classes.

For students with very limited English we offer a Foundation English Programme. This intensive English language course provides students with the skills they need to be able to join mainstream classes. They have up to 12 hours of ESOL lessons per week and usually study three other subjects. Each student’s progress is monitored and they transfer into mainstream classes as their English improves.