Which are the top ranked English language schools in the UK – and why? After a tumultuous year we publish this year’s list
Without mentioning the dreaded C word – we’ve all heard more than enough about it during the past nearly two years – this has been a tricky time for many, not least the English language teaching sector. So, how have the schools fared? Who’s still standing and which ones top our league table?
EL Gazette’s founder, Melanie Butler, has spent many hours slavishly going over the results of 112 schools and ranking them for the benefit of those deciding where to send students to and for the schools themselves. Included are 15 areas the schools are judged on, covering such diverse topics as safeguarding to staff management and course design, for a fully rounded picture of each institution. In our 2021-22 rankings supplement, we’ve also put together the essential key on how to read the table, as well as more in-depth explanatory notes on what a British boarding school actually is (and no, it very rarely resembles Hogwarts), where universities fit in and the benefits of studying for an MA in English language teaching. Turn to page 13 to read all about it.
“This has been a tricky time for many, not least the English language teaching sector”
Elsewhere in the magazine we preview two exciting events: the British Council’s ELTons Innovation Awards (page 11), which recognise the individuals, teams and organisations producing original courses, publications, apps and other projects to help English language teachers and students around the world; and ICEF Berlin (page 26), the international education industry’s largest B2B networking event, which takes place this year from 31 October to 3 November.
Along with a fascinating look at research findings on how language first emerged and the way in which we learn new languages, we’ve included an English language teacher’s findings on the bias in online hiring (page 32), which will no doubt resonate with many. There’s also an opinion piece raising the timely question of how British colonisation has influenced the rise of English language acquisition, though perhaps not in the way you may think (page 30).
Especially for teachers, there’s a review of a useful book (page 35) that will help you answer all those tricksy questions your students ask and, finally, we catch up with news and updates from around the world as it affects and influences the teaching and learning of English.
