PPLI Spotlight on Schools Woodbrook College - Flipbook - Page 2
Recognising and Valuing Home Languages in Our School
Woodbrook College is a co-educational post-primary school, which participates in the DEIS programme in Bray, Co.
Wicklow. It has a student population of approximately 570.
Our vision is 8learning together for a better future.9 Woodbrook College has a diverse student population, with
roughly 33% of students speaking a language other than English at home.
Students whose orst language is not English, or who speak a language other than English in the home, can be at a
disadvantage in a school environment. Although they may have good Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills
(BICS) they may lack Cognitive Academic Linguistic Proociency (CALP), which is the language ability required for
academic achievement in a context-reduced environment.
As a result of this, a student's ability can be underestimated and some students do not reach their personal
potential. Some students may have good receptive skills but do not have suocient language to express their
knowledge orally or in the written form. Following on from this, a teacher could mistakenly think that such students
are not competent in classes or with subject content. Some teachers may feel that students are not motivated, are
performing inadequately or are not working to their potential. This can be frustrating for students.
What are the aims of the project?
The aims of this project are to ensure that every learner, regardless of English language proociency, feels a sense of
belonging in our school and that they can access the curriculum content and experience success. We aim to meet
these targets by supporting, recognising and valuing home languages and by improving the language of schooling.
How was the project successful?
All members of the school community completed an anonymous
survey. This included teaching staf, parents, members of the
Board of Management, non-teaching staf, and students.
We also completed a whole-school language survey. Information
is now requested from parents of incoming students about
languages which are spoken at home.
Heritage Language Support classes are timetabled for 5th and 6th
Years, in addition to the EAL hours which are timetabled across
the school.
PPLI delivering
Supported by
Department of Education
and Youth
