HIS Saturday School is offered to students who need to improve their English skills and adults studying for English Proficiency examinations. It is compulsory for Harrow IEC students - as it speeds up their entry into the main school. It is also strongly recommended for those students taking any of the Cambridge ESOL examinations, as it has been proven to greatly improve their chances of achieving both pass marks and merits. In all classes, the emphasis is on language skills - reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students are taught by teachers who are often trained ESL instructors and always have extensive classroom experience. Currently, Saturday School has around 130 registered students, many of whom come from outside the school community.

This year, Saturday School is expanding at both ends of the age spectrum. Firstly, as well as opening up the Cambridge KET and PET tests to non-HIS students, we are also introducing its Young Learners' Examinations as formal assessments. These are highly motivational and internationally recognised tests for students aged 7 - 12 years old. We will begin with the Starters Level tests at the end of November, with Movers and Flyers to follow in Terms 1 and 2 respectively, and look forward to seeing the proud look on students' faces when they receive their certificates. Our second major change is the introduction of an IELTS class for students of 6th form age. The IELTS examinations are crucial indicators of English language proficiency and provide non-native speakers with the opportunity to enter tertiary education in the West, including the prestigious Ivy League and Oxbridge universities for those that perform well.

Our major non-Harrow student population comes from the Japanese community. Some of these students, aged 6 – 9, learn in our Beginners’ classes, in order to allow them to catch up to Harrow students’ English abilities. However, most of those who have attended the programme for the past year have now become proficient enough to join the mainstream Harrow classes. In an English-only speaking environment, these students find that English immersion greatly increases their understanding and use of the language.

HIS Saturday School continues to expand each year, with the addition of new learners from both within and outside Harrow’s regular student body, and there is a strong sense of commitment from both students and teachers, bringing with it a wonderful sense of teamwork each Saturday morning.

Come and join the HIS Saturday School team and see for yourself!