Page 11 - ELG2202 Feb Issue 479

NEWS
Disappearing schools cause confusion

By Melanie Butler
The figures tell the story. In January
2020, the Gazette database listed
478 British Council accredited PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK
language schools. Today it contains
just 401.
Two more are due to go
shortly: Eurocentres Cambridge
is scheduled to close this month,
while its sister school in Brighton
is set to merge with the local
Stafford House and will trade
under that name until the end of
this year, according to Stephan
Roussounis, managing director
of the Bayswater College Group,
which now owns both schools.
The changes at Eurocentres
will bring the number of centres
on our database down to 399.
However, this also includes 13
centres accredited since February
2020. So the number of centres
that have closed, merged or
opted out of the scheme in the
past two years stands at 92.
In other words, 19% of all the
centres on the British Council
website before the pandemic hit
are no longer listed.
By no means have all 92 ceased
trading, though.
For some centres, like the seven schools and on its list of summary both by the British Council and its website as temporarily closed.
universities which have left the statements. Effectively, it is English UK is so contradictory Neither its owner, SCIH Ltd or
scheme, EFL accreditation is an Regent Cambridge, which no and confusing? sister companies, Languages Plus
optional extra and opting out an longer exists. The Gazette counts a school as and Languages Plus London, have
easy way to save money. For others, In another example, Liverpool accredited only when it appears submitted accounts for any year
such as the long-established School of English is listed as on the British Council list of after 2018.
Victoria School of English, which permanently closed by English summary statements, but just Most mysterious of all is St
now operates exclusively online, UK, but Liverpool School because it’s accredited doesn’t George’s Business and English
the British Council imprimatur of English Summer Centres mean it’s currently trading. Language Centre in Hastings,
may seem less relevant. appears on the British Council’s Some are hibernating schools: which seems to have disappeared
Many have closed. English UK, Summary Statements (February they have a website which makes entirely. Though its owner
the association of British Council 2022, version 2) and a report for it clear they are temporarily company, St George’s England,
accredited schools, currently lists the year-round school has re- closed, they have continued to posted accounts for 2020, the
only 36 member schools which appeared on the British Council’s submit accounts to Companies link to its website from the
have informed the association A-Z web page of accredited House and are listed as accredited. British Council is dead, it has
that they have closed for schools. To confuse matters They may have no building and disappeared from Google maps
good (see englishuk.com/member- further, if you search under only a skeleton staff, but choose and the phone number given on
centre-closures). Liverpool on the English UK to retain accreditation so they can its English UK membership listing
However, the list, which is not website, an entry for the year- re-open as and when they feel the has been disconnected. Its only
dated, contains some information round school turns up. situation permits. digital presence is its Facebook
contradicted by other data, either It would be good news indeed Some are zombie schools: in page, where the last posting is
elsewhere on the English UK site if Liverpool School of English, hibernation, but showing signs of dated 2018.
or on one or both of the British a Gazette Centre of Excellence, financial difficulties. For the sake of agents and
Council web pages. does re-emerge, but how can we Mayfair School of English, students who depend on English
For example, OISE Cambridge, possibly know which information whose owner company was UK and the British Council’s
which merged with sister school source to believe? TMSOE in September 2020, is information when choosing a
Regent Cambridge in 2020, is And how on earth is any currently trading under another course, maybe these institutions
listed as permanently closed. language travel agent, let alone company, Mayfair Junior English, should do a little more than just
However, OISE Cambridge is a student or their parents, with the liquidator’s approval, but continue to list any accredited
the name listed in the directory supposed to know if a language remains temporarily closed. centre that pays their dues.
of English UK members and it’s school is operating or is Sprachcaffe Brighton, whose Perhaps they could check, for
also listed on both the British accredited to do so when the building – according to the local example, that the school still
A-Z directory of accredited official information provided press – was sold in 2020, is listed on actually exists.
editorial@elgazette.com 11