EAL
Diversity at Endeavour 2010
Endeavour welcomes students from all over the world. There are over 30 nationalities represented at the school including Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, Slovakian, Hungarian, Portuguese, Kurdish, Turkish, Afghani, Iraqi, Chinese, Congolese, Somali, Sudanese and Ghanaian.
Needless to say, adapting to a different culture with English as a second language represents a huge challenge for these students but the vast majority meet the challenge, working hard, achieving well in national tests and exams and going on to Further Education. The students are also encouraged to take exams in their home language where possible and last year 27 students achieved good GCSE grades in five different languages:Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese. A further 4 students achieved good A/S levels in Polish, Russian and Arabic and one student achieved a Grade A in A Level Russian. This year another 40 students will be taking language exams in Arabic, Portuguese, Polish and Russian.
The students are also encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities, projects and events and they are well-represented in both sport and the arts. Endeavour prides itself on the links it has established with the community: outside organisations are always keen to work with EAL (English as an Additional Language) students to raise awareness of the issues of cultural diversity and identity. In the past EAL students have worked alongside Hull students on projects run by Arts in Mind, the British Library and Hull Museums, the Creative Partnership, the New Life Church and the Imam Salik representing the Muslim community. The school also works in partnership with HANA (Humber All Nations Alliance) and EAL students always participate in the BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) Youth Forums. Endeavour has also hosted two World of Music Evenings with music from around the world performed by students from the school as well as guest artists.
There is no doubt that these students not only benefit from their experience at Endeavour but also enrich the experience of life at the school and the community as a whole.
