A BASINGSTOKE school achieved a gold-level excellence award in EAL (English as an additional language) and EMTAS (ethnic minority and traveller achievement service).

Cranbourne school is the first Basingstoke secondary school to achieve the EAL excellence award.

Developed by the EMTAS Specialist Teacher Advisor team, the EAL Excellence Award is an online school self-evaluation framework for monitoring the impact of provision for pupils learning English as an additional language, as well as the wider aspects of black and minority ethnic achievement.

Pamela Corrigan, head of MFL, led the Cranbourne staff to achieve the prestigious award.

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At Cranbourne, approximately 20 per cent of pupils speak additional languages.

Cranbourne’s official EAL register shows there are at least 50 different languages spoken by the pupil body.

Ms Corrigan said the school works very closely with EMTAS to ensure that each child, whose first language is not English, receives the support they need to achieve their full potential.

She continued: “Cranbourne is a vision of true inclusivity and is very proud of its diverse community.

“The EAL Excellence Award acknowledges all the great work that takes place at Cranbourne to support students for whom English is an additional language and their families.

“It is a fantastic achievement – one that the body of Young Interpreters continues to take a lead on. Many members of staff also made an extremely valuable contribution to the award.”

Cranbourne’s Young Interpreters can easily be identified by a badge, which they proudly wear on their blazer, and they are always willing to help all visitors to the school.