English Speaking Board (International) Ltd

Category: Language

  • Strengthening Our Partnership with Europalso

    ESB International was delighted to reaffirm our long-standing and successful partnership with Europalso at a professional seminar this past weekend, represented by our Chief Executive, Tina Renshaw, and Chief Assessor, Anthea Wilson. The seminar was hosted for Europalo’s language school owners and offered a great opportunity for training, collaboration and networking.

    Europalso president George Zikopolous, and ESB International CEO Tina Renshaw speaking to Europalso language school owners.
    ESB International CEO, Tina Renshaw, delivers updates to over 150 Europalso language schools.

    ESB International was on hand to discuss another strong academic year, as well as outlining what the future holds for our work in Greece:

    ✅ 17 years of partnership – delivering high-quality ESOL International assessments for Greek learners.
    ✅ Innovation in assessment – from adult online assessments to our online assessor training platform, ensuring quality and accessibility.
    ✅ Outstanding May 2025 results:

    • B1 learners achieved their best overall results since 2020.
    • B2 candidates demonstrated strong language control and lexis above level expectations.
    • C1 performance was among the highest since 2020, with significant improvements in writing.
    • C2 candidates excelled in listening, reading and use of English skills

    ✅ 168 oral assessors delivered 100% error-free administration, and results were delivered faster than ever.

    Looking ahead:

    • A 10-year collaboration plan, ESB-designed e-certificates, and continued growth in online learning and webinars.
    • ESB International will also be hosting an upcoming webinar on 6th November to support continued CPD for our online assessments.

    The trip also represented Tina’s final visit to Europalso ahead of her departure from ESB International at the end of the year after 9 years as Chief Executive.

    Europalso has always made ESB feel incredibly welcome, and I’m deeply grateful for the trust and partnership we continue to share. Your unwavering commitment to ESB International, and to the learners we serve, makes me incredibly proud and gives me every confidence for the years ahead. 

    Tina Renshaw, Chief Executive, ESB International

    Our commitment to Europalso, language school owners and learners remains unwavering. Thank you to the Europalso community for your enduring trust and partnership.

  • Looking Ahead: Enhancing Your Digital Experience with ESB International

    At English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. (ESB International), we are proud to work alongside our centres in delivering high-quality qualifications that make a real difference to learners. As we continue to grow and evolve, so too does our commitment to improving the digital experience for our centres.

    Over recent months, our team has been working diligently to upgrade the digital infrastructure that supports the booking and delivery of our assessments. These enhancements will bring about a more robust, efficient, and reliable platform—particularly during peak times in the academic year.

    When these upgrades go live in the early autumn, you can expect a smoother, more stable experience across both our website and the ‘MyESB’ booking hub. For most of our centres, particularly our UK-based centres, the changes will be relatively minor. However, for some of our overseas centres, especially those offering our Oracy qualifications, the changes will be more impactful. Rest assured that our team will be on hand to guide you through any updates to the booking process, ensuring a seamless transition into the new academic year.

    We understand how important continuity and clarity are to your operations. That’s why we are committed to communicating any changes in advance and offering the support you need to adapt with confidence. We truly value your continued loyalty and the vital role you play in supporting learners across the UK and internationally. As the summer break begins, we wish you and your teams a well-earned rest and look forward to reconnecting in the new term—with an enhanced digital experience to support you every step of the way.

  • Join ESB International at NATECLA: a Smarter Approach to ESOL Assessment

    English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. (ESB International) is proud to be attending this year’s NATECLA National Conference, taking place from 27th–28th June. As a long-standing supporter of the ESOL community, we’re excited to connect with professionals across the sector to demonstrate how our approach to ESOL assessment not only enhances learner outcomes but also reduces tutor workload, improving overall wellbeing. 

    As part of our involvement, ESB International is pleased to sponsor the delegate badges at this year’s event. We will be well-represented throughout the conference at our stand in the exhibition area, where we’ll be sharing how our externally assessed ESOL Skills for Life qualifications can deliver real value to your provision. Whether you’re considering a shift from internal assessments or looking to improve your current external approach, we welcome the opportunity to speak with you. 

    Come and meet our team, including Tina Renshaw (Chief Executive) and Alan Brierley (Business Strategy Manager), and learn how we can support your organisation in delivering high-quality, meaningful assessments that work for learners and educators alike. 

    Don’t miss our practical ESOL workshop

    We’re also excited to be delivering a workshop that offers direct takeaways for classroom practice.

    This workshop is open to all interested ESOL practitioners. 

    Workshop: Assess your Learners’ Reading Skills 
    Presenter: Anthea Wilson, ESB International’s Chief Assessor
    Date & Time: Saturday 29th June, 10:45–11:45am 
    What to Expect: A hands-on CPD session that guides ESOL tutors in creating effective reading assessment materials—practical, ready-to-use content that can be applied in the classroom right away. 

    If you’re unable to attend the conference or would prefer to explore our qualifications in a more personalised setting, we also offer informal one-to-one introductions with our team. To arrange a conversation at your convenience, simply click the button below to book a meeting.

    Book a meeting

    We look forward to seeing many of you at NATECLA and continuing to support the incredible work being done across the ESOL sector. 

  • Welcome back to all of our UK based centres – Academic Year 2021-22

    Thank you so much to all our centres that booked assessments with us last year. We all worked hard so that your learners could achieve, in spite of the continuing challenges. I want to thank the head office team, our assessors and markers for their part in making that happen for you and your learners.

    As we are starting the new academic year, I wanted to update you on our position for face to face assessing for all our Skills for Life and Speech qualifications occurring in the UK. It is our intention that for the academic year 21-22,face to face assessing will return for all these speaking and listening assessments. However, should public health guidance change, or a local situation emerge ESB will be able to consider using adapted assessments again (remote assessing) as Ofqual has allowed us to adapt in this way, if necessary.

    We will be releasing an ESB News later in the term so we can share all the activity that is happening in the ESB English language and Oracy world.

    I earnestly hope that this year is a year full of potential and positivity for you at your centre.

    Best wishes,

    Tina Renshaw, CEO