English Speaking Board (International) Ltd

Author: Liam Morton

  • Remote ESB assessments – Bringing out the best in everyone!

    Year 13 learners at Ellesmere College

    The recent ESB assessment undertaken by members of the Sixth Form at Shropshire’s Ellesmere College is a perfect example of ESB International’s successful delivery of remote, online assessments.

    Embracing ESB International’s Adapted Assessment, enabling learners to be assessed using our online video conferencing facility, the College was delighted with their learners’ fantastic commitment to completing ESB.

    Navigating unchartered territory, taking to Teams to complete their ESB Level 3 Certificate in Speech (Grade 8) assessment, the Ellesmere College learners were not phased by the online assessment, showing great resilience.

    The English Department at Ellesmere College, with its long and proud history of ESB success in oral communication, says: ‘Excellent collaboration, confidence and hard work were all on display as Year 13 took to Teams to complete their Grade 8 ESB examination.’

    ESB Assessor Louise Fox was thrilled to witness the exceptional standard of work and was able to build a good rapport with the learners. Louise says, ‘All learners brought enthusiasm, confidence and commitment on the day. They all did extremely well and there were smiles all round! I would love to meet the learners in person one day!’

    As displayed by Ellesmere College, ESB International’s assessments continue to be an enjoyable experience for our learners. Being an important element of learners’ preparation for higher education and employability, all our qualifications are built with the learners’ interests at heart.

    To find out more about how ESB International has adapted its assessments, please click here.

  • ESB Honorary Vice-President and Trustee, Merriel Halsall-Williams receives Fellowship Award

    We are thrilled to announce that ESB Trustee and Honorary Vice-President, Merriel Halsall-Williams has been awarded a Fellowship of the prestigious Girls’ Schools Association (GSA).

    Representing the heads of many of the top performing day and boarding schools in the UK independent sector, The Girls’ Schools Association encourages high standards of education for girls. Fellows of the GSA are typically nominated for being inspirational individuals who have made a considerable positive impact on the lives of young women and who embody the values of the GSA.

    Tina Renshaw, ESB International’s Chief Executive says: “Merriel is so deserving of this award. As one of ESB’s longest-standing assessors, she continues to this day to nurture and equip our learners with the confidence and skills to communicate effectively and has been nothing less than inspirational throughout her whole career.”

    Merriel’s enduring relationship with ESB International began in 1953, when as a 15-year old school girl she met ESB’s founder Christabel Burniston.

    “From that very moment, Merriel has made it her lifetime mission to champion the power of the spoken word. Her impact on public speaking is simply unique and immeasurable”, adds Tina.

    Reflecting on her Fellowship award, Head of Spoken English at Moreton Hall School, Merriel says: “This was so unexpected and I am very grateful. It has made me think back to how many girls’ schools I have taught in and to how many pupils have gone on to achieve awards for public speaking.”

    Merriel was presented with ESB’s prestigious Richard Ellis Award in 2018. Presented annually for excellence, the Richard Ellis Award, introduced in memory of former ESB Treasurer and Trustee Richard Ellis rewards an individual who has shown outstanding dedication to ESB. Merriel’s continuing commitment to the work of ESB and for promoting its values makes her a worthy winner of this award.

    ESB believes oracy to be at the heart of the learning experience. Its qualifications build confidence in learners, which is key to unlocking their potential and raising achievement, boosting progression and employability.

  • Extension of remote assessments for UK Speech and Language qualifications until the end of term

    Following on from Update 2 at the end of October and English Speaking Board (International) Ltd.’s decision to move all UK-based assessments to a remote, online delivery, ESB International has now taken the decision to extend this until the end of December, 2020.

    At times like these, we understand that community is more important than ever and out of respect, we will not be sending any of our assessors to centres. ESB International assessments will continue to take place remotely, using the video conferencing facility that centres habitually use and one that your learners are used to.

    We have already offered this adaptation in the summer and autumn, and the learners, assessors and teachers found it to be valid, reliable and a very positive experience. The assessor conducts and assesses the learners’ assessment in real-time and the assessment has the same content and procedure as face to face assessments.

    Detailed information about each qualification, how we are adapting it, and what centres and learners need to do to prepare for remote assessments, when assessments cannot be held in person with the assessor coming to the centre, are set out in the guidance documents below.

    ESB Centre Guidance for ESOL Skills for Life
    Assessments from 2nd November    Download
    ESB Centre Guidance for Speech
    Assessments from 2nd November    Download


    Any questions centre staff may have about these guidance documents or delivering adapted assessments, please email product@esbuk.org

    We are ready when centres return in the New Year to offer face to face assessments again or if there are local restrictions in place, to continue to offer adapted assessments. So again, you can be confident of continuing to prepare your learners for their assessments in the spring and summer terms.

    Not only do our qualifications build learners’ confidence and boost progression and employability, they are built with our learners’ interests at heart, ensuring an enjoyable learning experience.




    Tina Renshaw
    Chief Executive
    English Speaking Board (International) Ltd.

  • Communications to centres: Ofqual’s Extended Extraordinary Regulatory Framework (Update 2)

    From the 2nd November until 2nd December 2020, ESB International assessments will take place remotely, using the video-conferencing facility that your centre habitually uses and that your learners are used to. We have already offered this adaptation in the summer, and the learners, assessors and teachers found it to be valid, reliable and a very positive experience. The assessor conducts and assesses the learners’ assessment in real-time and the assessment has the same content and procedure as face-to-face assessments.

    From the 2nd November until 2nd December 2020, ESB International assessments will take place remotely, using the video-conferencing facility that your centre habitually uses and that your learners are used to. We have already offered this adaptation in the summer, and the learners, assessors and teachers found it to be valid, reliable and a very positive experience. The assessor conducts and assesses the learners’ assessment in real-time and the assessment has the same content and procedure as face-to-face assessments.

    Detailed information about each qualification, how we are adapting it, and what centres and learners need to do to prepare are set out in the guidance documents below.

    ESB Centre Guidance for ESOL Skills for Life Assessments
    from 2nd November     Download
    ESB Centre Guidance for Speech Assessments
    from 2nd November    Download

    If centre staff have any questions about these guidance documents or delivering adapted assessments, please email product@esbuk.org.

    We thank you for your continued support and we very much looking forward to working with you in 2020 and 2021.


    Tina RenshawChief Executive
    English Speaking Board (International) Ltd.