British Study Centres
Encyclopedia
British Study Centres School of English (BSC) is a group of English language schools consisting of four adult language schools and three junior centres in the UK. The head office is based in Marylebone
in central London
. The schools specialize in the teaching of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and teacher training (TEFL) courses. It is part of the British Study Centres group of colleges of further and higher education
.
which grew up in the 1960s), branching off from its sister company West London College
which offers further and higher education courses in 1996. The first school was opened in Oxford
, and after a location move in 2008 now occupies the four-floor building of Oxenford House in the centre of the town. In 2002 the second college was opened in Brighton
, and in 2004 a third school opened in Marylebone, central London
. A fourth school opened in Bournemouth in May 2010 as well as a specialist teacher training facility in central Oxford
which opened later that year. The college's head office moved from Hannah House to Duke Street, opposite Selfridges
and adjoining Oxford Street
, in early 2010.
In 2008 the company moved into the young learners market with the acquisition of 'ICH' (International College Holidays), a provider of vacation courses to children. Since acquiring ICH, British Study Centres has offered junior courses at independent school
s in Ardingly
, Cheltenham
and Wycliffe
.
Across its adult schools and junior centres there is an annual intake of 7500 students consisting of approximately 80 nationalities.
The school was nominated by Language Travel Magazine under the category of 'Star' English Language School Europe in 2009, then again for the same category and also 'Star' Junior Course Provider in 2010, with the school winning the Star English Language School Europe award of 'Star' English Language School Europe and 'Star' Junior Course Provider in 2010, with the school winning the Star English Language School Europe award in September 2010. The school was nominated for a third time for the 'Star' English Language School Europe for 2011.
, which in the latest inspections noted points of excellence in premises and academic management. The school is also a member of English UK
The adult schools hold a UKBA “Grade A” Tier 4 Sponsor’s Licence.
, academic English, business English
and exam preparation for IELTS, TOEIC / TOEFL, BULATS and Cambridge FCE and CAE. The adult courses are offered in Bournemouth
, Brighton
, London
and Oxford
.
Teacher training qualifications offered include the Cambridge Certificate in General English Teaching to Adults (CELTA
), Cambridge Diploma in General English Teaching to Adults (DELTA
), and Trinity College Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL
). Teacher training takes place in Brighton
and Oxford
.
Junior courses are offered in general English and English plus sports at three junior centres in Ardingly
, Cheltenham
and Wycliffe
.
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
in central London
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
. The schools specialize in the teaching of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and teacher training (TEFL) courses. It is part of the British Study Centres group of colleges of further and higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
.
History and location
British Study Centres has its roots in distance learning courses from the 1930s onwards (a precursor to the Open UniversityOpen University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
which grew up in the 1960s), branching off from its sister company West London College
West London College
West London College is an independent college of further and higher education, located in the Mayfair district of Central London and has a student body of 1,500 full time students. The College specializes in the tuition of degree programmes awarded by British universities...
which offers further and higher education courses in 1996. The first school was opened in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, and after a location move in 2008 now occupies the four-floor building of Oxenford House in the centre of the town. In 2002 the second college was opened in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, and in 2004 a third school opened in Marylebone, central London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. A fourth school opened in Bournemouth in May 2010 as well as a specialist teacher training facility in central Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
which opened later that year. The college's head office moved from Hannah House to Duke Street, opposite Selfridges
Selfridges
Selfridges, AKA Selfridges & Co, is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and was opened on 15 March 1909.More recently, three other stores have been...
and adjoining Oxford Street
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, United Kingdom. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, as well as its most dense, and currently has approximately 300 shops. The street was formerly part of the London-Oxford road which began at Newgate,...
, in early 2010.
In 2008 the company moved into the young learners market with the acquisition of 'ICH' (International College Holidays), a provider of vacation courses to children. Since acquiring ICH, British Study Centres has offered junior courses at independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
s in Ardingly
Ardingly
Ardingly is a village and civil parish in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty about north of Haywards Heath in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England. The village is about south of London, south-south-west of East Grinstead, southeast of Crawley, north of Brighton and ...
, Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
and Wycliffe
Wycliffe
-People:*Wycliffe Grousbeck, CEO, Governor, and co-owner of the Boston Celtics basketball team*Wycliffe Bubba Morton , American Major League Baseball player*Wycliffe Juma Oluoch , Kenyan footballer*Wycliffe Oparanya, Kenyan politician...
.
Across its adult schools and junior centres there is an annual intake of 7500 students consisting of approximately 80 nationalities.
The school was nominated by Language Travel Magazine under the category of 'Star' English Language School Europe in 2009, then again for the same category and also 'Star' Junior Course Provider in 2010, with the school winning the Star English Language School Europe award of 'Star' English Language School Europe and 'Star' Junior Course Provider in 2010, with the school winning the Star English Language School Europe award in September 2010. The school was nominated for a third time for the 'Star' English Language School Europe for 2011.
Accreditation
British Study Centres is accredited by the British CouncilBritish Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
, which in the latest inspections noted points of excellence in premises and academic management. The school is also a member of English UK
The adult schools hold a UKBA “Grade A” Tier 4 Sponsor’s Licence.
Courses
The schools offer full time courses in the following subjects for adults: general EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, academic English, business English
Business English
Business English is English language especially related to international trade. It is a part of English for Specific Purposes and can be considered a specialism within English language learning and teaching; for example, the teachers' organisation IATEFL has a special interest group called BESIG...
and exam preparation for IELTS, TOEIC / TOEFL, BULATS and Cambridge FCE and CAE. The adult courses are offered in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
Teacher training qualifications offered include the Cambridge Certificate in General English Teaching to Adults (CELTA
CELTA
The Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults is a professional credential held by many teachers of English as a foreign language.-Overview:...
), Cambridge Diploma in General English Teaching to Adults (DELTA
Delta
Delta commonly refers to:* Delta , Δ or δ in the Greek alphabet, also used as a mathematical symbol* River delta, a landform at the mouth of a river* Delta Air Lines, a major U.S...
), and Trinity College Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL
CertTESOL
The Certificate in TESOL is an accredited professional qualification awarded in the teaching of "English for speakers of other languages" by Trinity College London. It is a commonly taken teaching qualification in the field of English language learning and teaching . Many people take this...
). Teacher training takes place in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
Junior courses are offered in general English and English plus sports at three junior centres in Ardingly
Ardingly
Ardingly is a village and civil parish in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty about north of Haywards Heath in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England. The village is about south of London, south-south-west of East Grinstead, southeast of Crawley, north of Brighton and ...
, Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
and Wycliffe
Wycliffe
-People:*Wycliffe Grousbeck, CEO, Governor, and co-owner of the Boston Celtics basketball team*Wycliffe Bubba Morton , American Major League Baseball player*Wycliffe Juma Oluoch , Kenyan footballer*Wycliffe Oparanya, Kenyan politician...
.