Our mission statement

Across Cultures partners with educators and learners to deliver exciting and innovative blended learning programmes and resources that support language learning and literacy within the demands of a rapidly changing world. 

Across Cultures has an experienced team of experts, including EAL, ESOL, and SEND specialists. We share a commitment to:

  • Quality
  • Communication 
  • Customer service
  • Innovation
  • Integrity
  • Teamwork
  • Continuous learning

Through these values, we work together with individuals and groups to deliver the best possible outcomes for education providers and enable their learners to reach their full potential. To date, we have supported almost 30,000 EAL learners worldwide and work with over 1,500 education providers.

How we got started

Caroline Scott, author and Director at Across Cultures, originally began writing an induction to English, funded by the Local Authority of Tower Hamlets in 2002.

This funding was awarded to accommodate for the distinct need for additional support for English language learners and their families in schools. After writing her first draft, Caroline went on to develop this further, eventually providing training for many schools in Tower Hamlets and beyond. After some years, Caroline left Tower Hamlets to start an international school overseas. There, she was able to develop ideas further. Following significant additional research, she wrote her first book, 'Teaching Children as an Additional Language: A Programme for 7-11 year olds.' She later went on to write her second book, 'Teaching English as an Additional Language 5-11, A Whole School Resource', which encompassed many more facets of language learning, including language learning strategies, additional assessment, a structured approach to literacy and differentiating further for all levels of language across all curriculum subjects.

The Learning Village, an online English language learning programme for learners in schools (www.learningvillage.net), was a natural evolution of her work. It allowed increased flexibility for learners and teachers, as well as providing a structured approach to literacy and significantly more content and assessment opportunities. Her third book 'An English as an Additional Language (EAL) Programme: Learning through images for 7-14 year olds encompasses this approach.

Caroline also delivers training and consultancy for senior teachers/leaders on supporting language learning across the curriculum (the EAL Framework Process), as well as delivering whole-school insets and other courses on how to achieve effective language teaching through blended learning.

More recently, with the support of the Across Cultures team, Caroline has developed the Community Village, which supports a structured approach to literacy for adults. This is a blended learning programme that has been specifically tailored for new-to-English, SEND, and low-level literacy adult learners, using image as the language of instruction.

Finally, Across Cultures also provides AssessEP, a tool designed to assess English proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Who we are

Caroline Scott

Caroline Scott

Director, Author & Trainer

Caroline Scott BA, DipM, NPQH, MA has worked in schools across the world, developing English language skills for young learners and adults. Catering for beginner through to fluent learners in culturally rich, internationally minded learning environments, she has also trained teachers in Europe, South East Asia, the Middle East and Australasia. Caroline was the founding Head of Primary at CES, a British International School in Cairo, Egypt (3-18 IPC school) and the Primary Principal at the International School of Milan, Italy (3-18 IB PYP school). As the founder of Across Cultures and creator of the Learning Village blended learning programme (structured literacy for EAL learners in primary and secondary schools), Community Village blended learning programme (structured literacy for adults ESOL learners) and AssessEP (a platform for assessing English proficiency). Caroline is the author of 'Teaching Children English as an Additional Language: A programme for 7-11 year olds', 'Teaching English as an Additional Language 5-11: A Whole School Resource' and 'An English as an Additional Language (EAL) Programme: Learning through images for 7-14 year olds'.
Breda Matthews

Breda Matthews

EAL Specialist

Breda Matthews, MA, B.Ed., Dip TESSOL, is responsible for demonstrations and training in the Australasia region, as well as content development. She is a facilitator and teacher of English language learners and has wide experience and expertise in programme design, teaching and assessing English language learners, resource creation and professional development in New Zealand. Breda has designed and delivered face-to-face and online programmes to English language learners. She is the founder of the English Language Resources Centre in New Zealand.
Iva Miteva

Iva Miteva

EAL Specialist

Iva is an EAL Specialist who has taught EAL to international pupils from different countries and educational backgrounds for over 18 years. In addition to that, she has also led and managed the EAL provision in a number of schools as Head of EAL and EAL Coordinator. Iva has a PG Dip in Educational Leadership and Management and a Master's in Applied Linguistics. Iva is passionate about multilingualism, valuing diversity and the importance of maintaining children's home languages.
Martha Giannakaki

Martha Giannakaki

EAL Specialist

Martha has extensive experience in teaching EAL pupils in primary and secondary education in the UK. She has also delivered teacher training on EAL teaching strategies and actively contributed to the improvement of EAL provision in schools. Martha holds a Bachelor's degree in English Language & Literature and a Master's Degree in Applied Linguistics, and she has conducted research on foreign language didactics and English Language curriculum design in the past. She has also been an English Language Teacher for the past 17 years. Her areas of interest include language and identity, the bilingual brain and psychology behind multilingualism.
Miranda Howell

Miranda Howell

EAL Specialist

Miranda, MEd BA Hons Trinity Dip TESOL, Mindlab, is responsible for demonstrations and training in the Australasia region, as well as content development. She is an EAL specialist who has taught in primary, secondary and tertiary organisations in the UK, New Zealand, Malaysia and Oman. Miranda has worked as an academic leader and as a teacher professional development coach. She also has experience across a range of international curricula, including NZCEL, NCEA, PYP, IMYC and Cambridge. Her specific area of interest is blended learning to meet individual student needs in a relevant context.
Rose Baty

Rose Baty

EAL Specialist

Rose has over 20 years’ experience in New Zealand and UK primary schools, more recently as an EAL specialist. She has a Bachelor of Education, Diploma in Primary Teaching, and is finishing her Masters in TESOL at Victoria University, Wellington. Rose is responsible for demonstrations and training in the Australasian region, and is passionate about inclusive teaching strategies and helping teachers working with EAL students. She is based in Wellington and enjoys mountain biking, walking her dog, baking, and hanging out with her family exploring Wellington’s beautiful native bush.
Jessica Gosling

Jessica Gosling

EAL Specialist for Early Years

Jess has taught in five different countries in varied EAL roles, including as a classroom teacher, Head of Year and Director of her own Early Years business. She currently works in a Reception class in an international school in Taipei. Jess writes regularly for the Times Educational Supplement (TES) about her teaching practice and EAL in general. A highly passionate educator, she studied a Masters in Childhood Studies and Early Years.
Mary Langford

Mary Langford

EAL Specialist (Mother tongue & International Education)

Mary has over 40 years' experience in international school life, including as a teacher, Principal and Director. She served as Deputy Executive Director of the European Council of International Schools (ECIS), instructing in and addressing language issues, mobility and transition. Across the sector, she has worked in governance, admissions, alumni relations, examinations, and public relations and communications.

Mary was involved in the founding of the new Halcyon London International School in 2012 - the first not-for-profit international IB World School (MYP and DP) in central London - and managed its mother tongue language programme for the next two years as an independent consultant. She has worked as a consultant advising international families seeking school placements and as a Visiting Lecturer at University College Zealand, Denmark, advising on international teaching practice and placements. Mary has served on 17 multi-agency international school accreditation visiting teams and her work has taken her to over 90 international schools worldwide. With colleagues, she developed the International Language and Literature Teachers' Cooperative, providing mother tongue language support to IB students.

Her articles, authored works and peer book review have been published globally. She has spoken extensively before school staff, leaders and boards, parent associations, international schools associations and private-sector interests, and has been interviewed for numerous blogs, podcasts, articles and programmes.

Mary has a BA in Spanish/Portuguese and Latin American Humanities and an MA in International Education; she is currently undertaking doctoral studies in International Education at the University of Bath.

Louise Kearns

Louise Kearns

EAL Specialist

Louise Kearns is an EAL specialist based in the Netherlands; she has worked extensively in EAL. Louise has a wealth of experience in presenting EAL training, coupled with a passion for helping schools transform their EAL approaches. Louise has worked closely with Across Cultures to develop a whole-school EAL policy and EAL handbook, which includes the implementation of the Learning Village.
Simon Lobo-Morell

Simon Lobo-Morell

Developer, CDU Digital

Simon joined the Across Cultures team to work collaboratively in developing our online EAL learning environment, the Learning Village. Simon has over 20 years' experience as a programmer and has a keen interest in languages, having also taught English as a Foreign Language. Simon runs CDU Digital, a website development and digital marketing business.
Beverley Roby

Beverley Roby

Memberships

Beverley is often the first person you'll speak to if you register on the Learning Village. She'll help with all your initial questions and set you up with your EAL Specialist, who can provide you with initial training and ongoing support. Beverley lives near Manchester and is the proud mother of Jasmine.
Vicky Henderson

Vicky Henderson

Memberships & Wellbeing Specialist

Vicky Henderson, BA Hons, PGCE (EYFS/KS1), CELTA, has over 10 years of experience in education, teaching in UK schools and extensively in Australia, Thailand, and France. She has specialised in teaching English and supporting bilingual children in becoming literate. While living in France in her late 20s, Vicky applied her expertise to become fluent in French and cherishes time spent reconnecting with friends and immersing herself in French culture.

A multi-award-winning coach, mentor, trainer, and speaker, Vicky is passionate about mental health and emotional development, working with both young people and adults. She specialises in emotional intelligence and resilience, helping clients overcome stress, anxiety, and low confidence. Vicky also has extensive training in trauma and its effects, emphasising mindful, trauma-informed practice and creating psychologically safe environments.

Find out more here: Young People, Adults

Leesh Mulligan

Leesh Mulligan

Administrator (New Zealand)

Alisha manages new and existing memberships of the New Zealand region. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Alisha has a background in application administration and customer service in the financial services sector. She enjoys spending time with her young family and jewellery making.
Heidi Brunner

Heidi Brunner

Content Development Lead

Heidi is responsible for the planning and managing of content development processes, as well as the creation of resources, virtual lessons and videos. Heidi is a primary school teacher and speaks three languages fluently. She currently studies towards her trilingual Master's degree in Primary Education and spends most of her free time reading and singing in her band.
Karen Wilson

Karen Wilson

SEND Specialist

Karen develops support for SEND and learners with EAL and SEND within Across Cultures and the Learning Village. As an experienced SENDCO, SEND Lead Worker, Deputy Manager and Class Teacher, Karen has a wealth of experience to share on the subject of SEND. In addition to her work in SEND, Karen also works part time in the Finance department. In her spare time, Karen can usually be found on the sideline supporting her son's and daughter's many sporting activities.
Alan Best

Alan Best

Strategic development

Alan has a background in finance, cyber security, third-party risk, and business development. He has also dedicated over two decades to being a school governor/trustee in a variety of roles, including Chair of Governors. Alan is responsible for strategic development which is a combination of understanding existing user behaviour and outreach awareness activity. In his spare time Alan enjoys competing in full-distance Ironmans.
Sara Marchetto

Sara Marchetto

Illustrator (Learning Village)

Sara does an incredible job of bringing the Learning Village to life! Sara lives in a beautiful village in the Italian Alps and loves hiking and practicing yoga. She started her illustration career by creating colourful comic strips about her primary school classmates' imaginary adventures. She has published professionally since 2009, working on textbooks, fiction books, games, and educational projects for a wide age range. She collaborates with publishers, institutions, and companies in Italy and worldwide.

//www.saramarchetto.com/