b'International study centresInternational study centres are found all over the UK. They serve as a means of teaching young people (usually from age 11-16) academic English and introducing them to English culture and English education. The aim of most of these schools is to provide a gentle transition for foreign (non-English-speaking) adolescents into life in an English school, often as boarders, and to prepare them for either A levels or, in some cases, the IB diploma, which then leads to university entry. In some cases GCSEs or IGSCEs are offered alongside intensive English-language programmes to facilitate this preparation.A growing number of independent boarding and day schools have seen the income potential of attracting foreign-national pupils and some have opened international study centres as what might be described as adjunct feeder schools within the main school. If you are thinking of sending your child to an international study centre, heres a checklist of the things you should consider: What are the admissions criteria? How does the school assess the pupils level of English language and other learning?Are the teachers trained in EAL teaching, and used to working with children from all over the world?How does the school welcome new pupils, make them feel at home and integrate them?Is there a good mix of pupils? Too many from one country may tend to talk amongst themselves rather than learning English and mixing with others.Are pupils encouraged to celebrate and share their culture? Are diverse diets and religious practices catered for?Can pupils keep up their own language to a high academic level?74'