We would like to inform you that the offices of English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. will be closed from 23rd December 2021– 3rd January 2022 inclusive, for the festive period. We will reopen on Tuesday 4th January, 2022.
Please be assured that all queries will be answered as soon as we return.
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to working with you in 2022.
We wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year from the ESB Team!
As part of its 70/70 Campaign, ESB is supporting learners at Staffordshire’s St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy to boost their oracy skills by enabling them access to its Level 3 Certificate in Speech (Grade 6) assessments.
With many learners at the school facing disadvantage due to socio economic factors and migration status, ESB aims to equip these learners with the communication skills they need in order to achieve their aspirations.
Says ESB Organiser at St Margaret Ward, Mary Yates, “We, at St Margaret Ward, are always so impressed with the impact that ESB assessments have on developing our students’ self-confidence. Public speaking is not a skill many of our students come to naturally, so it is always a pleasure to witness their oratory skills progress as they practise for the assessment.
“Watching their sheer relief turn into pride upon receiving their results, only further solidifies the importance of this certification.”
ESB Assessor, Louise Fox, said, “I received a very warm welcome at St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy. It’s a delightful school and the children were all keen and receptive. They had prepared super presentations and visual aids. Feedback received after the examinations was positive and encouraging, the children had clearly benefitted and developed their confidence due to this opportunity. Well done!!”
ESB’s Chief Executive, Tina Renshaw adds, “Here at ESB, we are steadfast in our determination to support as many disadvantaged groups as possible from the charity and community sectors, as well as educational centres and we are passionate to help close the disadvantage gap, as demonstrated by our 70/70 Campaign. I’m thrilled that our initiative has enabled learners at St Margaret Ward to complete our assessments, unlocking their potential and raising their achievement.”
St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy is just one of the schools that is using ESB to help its learners to develop essential life skills, but ESB would like to help many more.
If you believe your learners or young people would benefit from an Oracy journey which includes ESB assessments, we would love to hear from you! Once you contact us you can also find out whether your centre is eligible for funding and support. Please email business@esbuk.org. For further details about our 70/70 Campaign, please click here.
ESB is giving centres the option for their assessor to use digital sound files in their ESOL Skills for Life Speaking and Listening assessments.
From January 2022, ESB assessors will be able to play audio files for the Listening Task from a centre’s classroom computer. These digital sound files are merely an alternative – not a replacement – to using CD players and centres may continue to use CDs if they wish.
Please read the following steps that are necessary to enable ESB’s assessors to use digital sound files at your centre:
ESB values transparency as one of its most defining characteristics and always encourages feedback from its customers. We hope this new development will further enable your learners to successfully complete our assessments, boosting their progression and employability!
Dear Centres,
Further to a review of our product portfolio, the following qualifications will be withdrawn on 30th September 2022:
These qualifications have been replaced with the Speech for Employment Pathway in:
Additionally, the following qualifications will be withdrawn on 30th September 2022 due to low enrolments:
If you wish to register your learners for an assessment this academic year, you must register before the 31st May 2022. This is the Operational End Date. Your learners can take their assessment after 31st May 2022 if they have been registered, but the last date for certificates to be issued is 30th September 2022. If you have any questions, or would like advice on other qualifications that we offer, please email product@esbuk.org.