What is accreditation?
Accreditation is a form of quality assurance. It’s a process whereby an English language school is checked to make sure that it meets the standards established by an accrediting body. The aim of accrediting bodies is to protect English language students. This is done by school inspections which make sure that English schools are giving their students great service. An accrediting body is an organisation that carefully checks a school and awards it accreditation when the body is satisfied that the school is offering its students an excellent service in all areas.
Accrediting bodies monitor the schools in their countries. Only the schools which offer the best service become accredited schools. Therefore, accreditation ensures that you will receive a high-level of quality service at an EC school. Accreditation is an internationally recognised mark of quality that shows a school offers the best possible level of service to its students. Our English schools have been thoroughly examined, investigated and found worthy of accreditation.
AAIEP
Every year, more than 400,000 students come to the USA to study in intensive English programs and live among native English speakers. Through its support for ethical and professional standards for intensive English programs, AAIEP promotes the well-being and educational success of its English language students.
ACCET
ACCET provides institutional accreditation for organisations whose primary function is for educational purposes and also for organizations offering continuing education as a clearly identified institutional objective within the operational entity, such as in-service corporate training.
ALTO
Providing a global platform for leaders and decision makers within the language travel industry is central to ALTO’s mission. The association seeks to develop and grow the industry through networking, professional development, as well as idea and information exchange.
BPPE
The California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) is a unit of the California Department of Consumer Affairs charged with regulation of private postsecondary educational institutions operating in the state of California. The BPPE is not an accrediting agency. Its primary purpose is to prevent fraudulent diploma mills. View Reports
British Council
Based in six continents and over 100 countries, and working with millions of people each year, the British Council is the UK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.
Note: Accreditation applies to all EC schools in the UK.
Cambridge ESOL Test Centre
Working in over 130 countries and delivering exams for nearly 4 million people a year, the Cambridge ESOL Test Centre has garnered over 100 years of language learning and assessment, leading the association to working with international educational institutions, and local and regional governments.
EduSA
Education South Africa (EduSA) is the national association of quality English language centres in South Africa. It is committed to developing and guiding the growth of the English language travel industry in South Africa, while ensuring that its members meet or exceed guaranteed minimum standards of professionalism and quality.
English UK
The national association of accredited English language centres, English UK, has 470+ member centres all accredited to the highest standards, and ensuring the best teaching and care for students.
Note: Accreditation applies to all EC schools in the UK.
Marketing English in Ireland
Before becoming a member of our organisation, a school must undergo rigorous testing and inspections, and must adhere to a strict protocol that calls on them to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, due diligence and care. Member schools are inspected and recognised by Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services (ACELS).
ACELS
The Accreditation and Co-ordination of English Language Services (ACELS) was established in 1969 under the auspices of the Irish Department of Education & Science to control standards in English Language Teaching (ELE) schools and organisations through an inspection/recognition scheme.
FELTOM
FELTOM (Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations in Malta) is an association of language schools that sets and monitors quality standards for its members. Not only does the association regulate the qualifications of the teaching staff, but also the facilities available at the schools.
IELTS Test Centre
IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world’s proven English language test. With more than 900 test centres and locations in more than 130 countries, IELTS is accepted as evidence of English language proficiency by over 9,000 organisations worldwide.
Independent Schools Inspectorate
The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is an agency approved by the Home Office to carry out Educational Oversight inspections of Private Further Education Colleges and English Language Schools in England and Wales. ISI has worked closely with the Home Office and other government departments to develop the Standards applicable for inspection. Oversight Report
Languages Canada
Membership is limited to programs from the public and private sectors which meet the rigorous standards of the association and who are committed to upholding them. Languages Canada is recognized by the Canadian government, as well as internationally.
SAYTC
South Africa Youth Travel Confederation (SAYTC) is a non-profit, membership-driven organization with the goal to market South Africa globally as a preferred youth tourism destination, and to establish a professional youth tourism industry based upon accreditation and guidelines.
Services SETA
EC English Cape Town is registered as an Accredited Training Provider with Services SETA, accreditation number 6515, to offer Learning Programmes aligned with the National Qualifications Framework in compliance with the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997; Skills Development Act No. 97 of 1998; South African Qualifications Authority Act 58 of 1995 and the Further Education and Training Colleges Act 16 of 2006.
TESL Canada
TESL Canada Federation is the national federation of English as a Second Language teachers, learners and learner advocates. The federation's mission is to promote excellence in the teaching and learning of English as a second or additional language.
TOEFL iBT Test Centre
The TOEFL iBT® test, administered online, is offered more than 50 times a year at authorized test centers around the world. It is an important part of a student's journey to study in an English-speaking country. The ETS TOEFL Program also provides learning support for students preparing for the test.
TOEIC Test Centre
For more than 30 years, the TOEIC test has set the standard for assessing English-language skills used in the workplace. Today TOEIC test scores are used by nearly 14,000 companies, government agencies and English Language Learning programs in 150 countries, and more than seven million TOEIC tests were administered in 2013.
How do schools become accredited?
It’s not easy for a school to get accreditation. Accreditation is not something you can buy, we work very hard to make sure that schools continue to be accredited by the top education agencies. To be accredited, EC has undergone a very intensive examination to ensure that our schools meet the strict targets demanded by accreditation organisations.
An examination team from the accreditation organisation visits a school to check everything in great detail. The examination team then writes a report of the visit and gives it to the accrediting commission for processing. After careful consideration the commission then awards accreditation to the school if it believes it is a offering the highest possible service to English language students.
So what happens when a school is checked by an accreditation organisation?
Amongst other things, an accreditation organisation visits the schools and checks:
- All staff (including teachers)
- Classrooms
- School facilities
- Student welfare services
- Student accommodation
- English courses and lessons provided
- Accounts and finances
- The administration of the school and how the school is managed
- Student satisfaction
This is all done through interviews (with staff & students), observing lessons, methodically checking the schools paperwork and visiting all school and accommodation premises. Only when an accreditation organisation is satisfied the criteria has been met will accreditation be given.
Why choose an accredited school?
For you, choosing an accredited school means that the institution is considered to be authentic by immigration officials. These days, student visas are granted only to students at accredited English schools. This is especially the case for UK and USA English language schools.
To be accredited schools must ensure that students receive the level of professional and personal care that they are entitled to expect from top English language schools.
Accredited schools are re-inspected every few years, and each year a number of accredited schools, selected at random, undergo unannounced interim visits.
This means that accredited schools can not let the level of service they provide slip. Schools must keep their schools at the top level at all times. This is good news for you - you can be sure that accredited schools are being watched by powerful organisations that have your interests at heart!
When accrediting bodies check an English school they make sure it has:
Qualified English language teachers.
A school premises with properly-equipped classrooms, areas for relaxation and a good environment for learning.
Suitable accommodation, which is regularly inspected for safety and suitability.
Proper 24-hour supervision of young learners on junior programmes.
Advertising and marketing which accurately reflects the service it provides.
Our accreditation proves that our schools are there to support and enhance your English studies. Our schools have teachers who have appropriate qualifications and are given sufficient support to ensure that their lessons meet your needs. Your requirements for security, care, information and leisure activities are met; your accommodation is suitable and your overall well-being is our main concern.
EC Awards
Last year was great for awards at EC English Language Centres. In our 25th year helping students learn English abroad and succeed in a global community, we’ve won 8 prestigious awards, including the coveted Star Chain School Award, and our unique Orange Carpet Experience clinched silver at the UK Customer Experience Awards in London. A big ‘thank you’ to all of our students, partners, staff, and teachers who have made all of this possible.
and experience EC's award winning schools for yourself