Page 14 - ELG2011 Nov Issue 473

BUSINESS NEWS . NEWS

New UK student visa system unveiled Can UK accreditors see PIXABAY

off the zombie schools?

By Matt Salusbury For courses of over 11 months,
the Student Route visa replaced
Details have emerged on the UK’s the old Tier 4 on 5 October. From By Melanie Butler Education Group Ltd, was
post-Brexit “points-based system” 1 January, new students from the EQROY / SHUTTERSTOCK dissolved on 4 February this year,
visas. The Tier 4 visa category for EU will need a Student Route A new phenomenon has emerged and that the school moved to new
students will be replaced by the visa. Saini said it will become in British EFL: the zombie premises. The website is live,
“Student Route”. The current easier to switch courses, and – as language school. It is listed as advertising both online and face-
Student Visitor visa will disappear, before – 20 hours a week of paid accredited, and its website to-face courses — although you
with summer schools accessible work will be allowed for university suggests that it is open, but it has are advised to “check for
via a visitor visa which EU students (although, as we report no premises, no staff, no students, availability”. Phone calls go to an
nationals will be able to obtain at on this page, advice on work no tangible assets and the answerphone and emails are
the point of entry. rights from the UK government company that owns it is no longer answered with an automatic reply
The transition period, following webpages remains confusing). trading. stating: “We are currently closed
the UK leaving the EU, ends on 1 There will also be a “simplified” Take the Irish-owned Delfin for a short break as we prepare for Are zombie school coming for students?
January 2021, after which free application system of “entry English school, in London. In the re-opening of the school
movement of EU nationals to the clearance” for Student Route January, we carried the news that under the new UK government company had a right to the name in the UK, at the same time as
UK ends. EU nationals will visas and for short-term study its teachers went on strike when guidelines. We will respond to but received no reply. ensuring the UK ELT sector is
become “low-risk” non-visa visas for EU nationals, based on they were all made redundant. On your query as soon as we return.” In the meantime, Cambridge given every opportunity to
nationals like Japanese or the EU Settled Status app. 4 March, the UK company, Delfin Who owns Mayfair School of Academy of English remains recover from the impact of Covid-
Brazilians, able to turn up at a Technical glitches with the app, English School (UK) Ltd, went English? The Executive Board accredited — but which 19.”
port, airport or on Eurostar and however, are already legendary. UK work rights maze into liquidation, owing £368,297. must know, because they state Cambridge Academy? In the middle of Covid-19
get a six-month visitor visa stamp It seems that it is also no longer Can students work on the new Student Route visa? The When we wrote to the British that, “Accreditation cannot be All the schools named here chaos, can you really do both?
in their passport on arrival, possible under the new rules for government’s latest advice to students is puzzling. Council with information on bought or sold; the continuation have good reputations, and none Accreditation UK may be the
allowing them to do a short course EU nationals to come to the UK On 18 October, www.gov.uk/student-visa the web page possible zombie schools, Delfin’s or transfer of accreditation is not is soliciting fees from would-be only EFL accreditation scheme
or summer school. for a “high school year” in state stated, “You may be able to work — how much depends on only presence was a picture on an automatic following a change of students, but with scores of UK left in the world where the school
Pat Saini, head of immigration schools. Some Erasmus+ work what you’re studying and whether you’re working in or out Irish website and a Google listing ownership. Any change of course providers, there may be owners’ association is still a
and partner at law firm Pennington experience or internship schemes of term-time.” It goes on to say that, “If your application is for a serviced office in London. ownership (proprietor, major many zombie schools with no partner in the scheme. New
Marches Cooper, briefed agents that bring EU nationals to the UK successful, you’ll be told what you can and cannot do on a As we go to press, the Irish- shareholder, company, holding building, no staff and a company Zealand, USA, Australia and
and language schools at the are now apparently closed, too. Student visa.” The cost of an application is £348. based Delfin website no longer company) has to be reviewed on the verge of bankruptcy, but Malta all have abandoned the
English UK Summit, shortly after We await detail on the fate of Immigration lawyer Pat Saini told attendees at the English lists a London branch under first.” with an online booking platform idea, Ireland is planning to.
the government announcement, current Tier 5 internship and au UK Summit (see article on this page) that those on the ‘Schools’ but boasts that the Which brings us to the that continues to take credit card It may also be the only one
on 10 September. pair visas. Student Route visa will be able to work up to 20 hours a London school is accredited by question of who owns Cambridge payments. which does not check the
While welcoming the new “low There is also some liberalisation week during term time, and longer during the holidays if the British Council. At the time Academy of English, at 45 years So, what about the students? financial health of the school as
risk” option, Saini warned that of the former Tier 2 work visa, they were in Higher Education. Those attending a Further of writing, it still is. old, one of the UK’s grand old “Accreditation UK is part of accreditation. In the
granting visas at the border is at now known as the “Skilled Education college or language school cannot work. We asked the British Council at schools, and long an EL Gazette committed to protecting the middle of a pandemic, that could
the discretion of immigration Worker” route. While up to now The Gazette emailed the Home Office, the ministry what point a centre ceases to Centre of Excellence. As the interests of those coming to study put students at risk.
officers and, historically, young these have required education at responsible for immigration, to check whether work rights exist. The reply, attributed to a website makes clear, it is currently
people have made up the biggest Level 6 (a degree), this has now for a Student Route visa will depend on the type of “UK accreditation spokesperson,” closed and not accepting UK language schools no longer accredited
category of entry refusals. Summer dropped to a Level 3, university institution where they were studying or what they were stated, “A centre ceases to be bookings. Its news page In addition to the operations belonging to Instil Education
school students should ensure entry level. The cap on the studying. accredited when the announces that the school reported on page 7, the following language schools have
they’re carrying a letter from their number of work visas issued each A press officer replied, telling us to phone the Home Accreditation UK Executive building was sold in May. been removed from the British Council accreditation list
school, the lawyer advised. year has also been scrapped. Office press office. When we did so, another press officer Board decides there is sufficient What it doesn’t say is that on since we last reported on changes in July 2020:
The existing “short-term study Can those in the UK on work told us to send an email. As of going to press, we have not evidence to demonstrate they no 20 July, having sold the building
visa,” lasting for six to 11 months, visas also study part-time, a received an answer. longer meet the requirements for for more than the value of its Ceased trading
will continue, and will now also be potential market for the UK’s ELT Meanwhile, lawyer Pat Saini sent us a link to the current accreditation.” debts, the schools’ owners, Bloomsbury International
required for EU nationals. industry? Saini told the Gazette official guidance, showing that some students in institutions Asked to explain the procedure Kamiya Schools Ltd, part of a Global School of English, Edinburgh
Students on this visa are not that they currently can, “so long in higher education do have work rights. for a school in liquidation, the Japanese educational trust, International House Aberdeen
allowed to switch courses or do as it does not impact their We have passed this guidance on to the Home Office. spokesperson wrote, “Notification appointed a liquidator, issued a Language Gallery, Manchester
any work – including internships. employment.” of company liquidation is statement of insolvency and MLS International College, Bournemouth
reviewed by the Executive Board, started winding up the company.
who may require additional On the same day, three senior Sold
information and/or investigation members of the school’s staff TEG English Bristol
before deciding the future of registered two new companies: a TEG English Cardiff
accreditation.” trading company, Willow TEG English Portsmouth
Since Mayfair School of Education Ltd, and a dormant TEG English Southampton
English, a stalwart of London’s company, Cambridge Academy of
Your next job is just a tap away. West End for over 30 years, is still English Ltd. On 13 August, Still trading, but no longer accredited
Willow Education applied to
accredited, the Executive Board
English 2000 School of English
must have decided it was not a
It looks like a brave attempt by
problem when, in September trademark the school name. ILS English, Nottingham
Moorlands Hall
Job Sear ch TEFL.c om 2019, Mayfair School of English staff to save their school, but the York Associates
changed its name to TMSOE Ltd trading name is normally an asset
The App for iPhone, iPad and Android. and went into liquidation owing of the company in liquidation and
£1,571,356. can’t be sold until it is wound up. STOP According to local press, Devon School of
JO BS | L ANGUA G E SCHO OLS FOR S A LE | A G ENT & B U SINE S S O P P O R TUNITIE S They must know that the We wrote to the liquidator for PRESS English is closing.
majority shareholder, Mayfair confirmation that the new
14 November 2020 editorial@elgazette.com 15