English UK has revealed its ELT (English Language Teaching) manifesto ahead of the upcoming government elections, aiming to strengthen the sector’s impact on the UK. The manifesto outlines the industry’s potential to serve as a gateway for recruiting NHS and care staff, fostering regional economic growth, building international relationships, and contributing to the economy as a significant export industry.
The membership body for English language schools is optimistic. Further, recent data indicates a strong recovery post-pandemic. In 2023, student numbers reached 76% of 2019 levels, and student weeks climbed to 71% for English UK members. Moreover, private members experienced the most significant growth within the sector.
Launched at the Houses of Parliament, the ELT manifesto puts forth six key recommendations for the next government:
- Legalising short work placements on all ELT courses
- Expanding career-enhancing travel opportunities for young people under the Young Mobility Scheme
- Increasing government marketing support for UK ELT
- Extending ID card travel for groups of under-18s from the EU
- Increasing rent-a-room relief to address capacity challenges
- Recognising UK ELT’s accreditation scheme for immigration purposes
The chief executive of English UK is confident that these recommendations are feasible and beneficial for any political party to adopt. The sector has recently achieved notable successes, including the government’s reinstatement of inbound ID-card travel for French school groups and the expansion of the Youth Mobility Scheme.
However, the recovery has not been uniform across the sector. State sector members only achieved 27% of pre-pandemic student weeks in 2023, whereas private sector members reached 79%. This disparity is attributed to structural changes within the state sector, highlighting the need for targeted support and policy adjustments to ensure a balanced recovery across all segments of the ELT industry.
