South and City College Birmingham

South & City College Birmingham is one of the largest further education colleges in the Midlands and is among the largest in the country. We have 8 campuses across Birmingham, providing a wide range of courses in almost all sectors. Most of the courses are vocational in nature and range from Construction through to Sports from entry level through to university level. Our International English courses are accredited by the British Council.

English Language School

Our location in the centre of Birmingham gives us access to all major travel hubs, including the airport, and is close to a wide range of available accommodation, shopping and entertainment facilities. The English Language School offers aspirational international students a unique chance to study in multinational classes with highly qualified teachers guiding and educating them throughout their learner journey. We have a strong reputation for offering high-quality classes with hugely positive teachers who encourage creativity, collaboration and independent learning, helping students to thrive in their educational journey and emerge fully prepared and equipped for higher education. These highly skilful teachers deliver personalised teaching and learning which are aligned with students’ global aspirations, assisting them to prepare for their pathway into higher education and expand their career prospects.

The English Language School has the atmosphere and benefits of being a relatively small and self-contained educational community where the students and teachers all know each other while having access to the advantages and facilities of a large multi-faculty organisation.

Students can start their course any time throughout the year. On arrival, students take our in-house initial assessment test which identifies their starting points in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. The results of this test determine their placement into the most appropriate class and level.

In their first week, students attend an induction meeting with the Deputy Head of School. In this meeting, students are provided with all the information they need about the course and the college. They also discuss their current level of skills and their short and long-term goals. This information is recorded on the Starting Points profile which is shared with the student’s personal tutor.

During the course, students take weekly progress tests, the results of which are discussed with them, and advice and guidance is given on what they need to do to develop their skills further. At higher levels, the weekly progress tests are closely aligned to IELTS-type exam tasks. Students are assigned a range of written tasks and assignments to be completed in class or at home. Written work is marked using a standard marking code which encourages students to identify and correct their own mistakes.

We are strong advocates of personalised learning and ensure that we work in partnership with our students to provide a learning experience that meets their individual learning needs.

Our teachers address these individual student needs systematically and effectively. Highly effective management of classroom interaction maximises participation by all students. A range of individual, pair and group work activities are organised to ensure that all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential in each session. We concentrate on accuracy and help students to use language correctly, appropriately and confidently.

The English Language School is subject to regular inspection by the British Council. In addition to this formal inspection, the Head and Deputy of the School regularly observe all teaching staff to check the quality of teaching and learning and provide them with constructive feedback. Teachers visit and observe each other's classes and have professional conversations about the most effective teaching and learning approaches and techniques.

The English Language School provides a high-quality experience for international learners offering integrated opportunities to collaborate, critically think and develop independent learning. Students are guided and supported throughout by highly skilled teaching and support staff with the aim of enabling international learners to interact successfully in the worlds of higher education and work.