English Speaking Board (International) Ltd

Category: Uncategorised

  • Keeping English Language Learners on the Road to Success in Greece!

    Almost 2,000 Greek ESOL International learners have carried on with their assessments this Spring thanks to ESB International’s innovative online offer.

    Most Awarding Organisations, operating in Greece, have taken the decision to postpone or allow only online assessments in centres until face-to-face sessions are able to resume in the Summer.

    However, Europalso, one of ESB International’s exclusively licensed centres in Greece, backed by ESB International’s online capabilities, is one of only two Awarding Organisations allowing learners to take their assessments at home or any other place of their choice. 

    ESB’s intuitive and easy-to-use online assessment option using ©Cirrus Assessment offers numerous benefits such as heightened security, using fully automated proctoring/invigilation through a sophisticated artificial intelligence software: ©Proctorio, reduced carbon footprint and improved efficiency.

    ESB’s Chief Executive Tina Renshaw, says: “We have a wealth of experience in promoting language in many countries, certificating over 40,000 ESOL International learners in 2019/20, and we deeply care about each and every one of our centres and learners.

    “Our investment in online technologies is allowing ESB International to continue to support its centres and learners and we are delighted that our learners in Greece and overseas are able to continue completing ESB assessments through our online assessment option, enabling them to develop key English language skills.

    “ESB assessments allow learners to be assessed in five core language skills; listening, speaking, reading, writing and the use of English – we call this All Modes – as we assess all of the skills to create an overall outcome. By giving our learners the ability to develop these key communicative skills, they will be well-equipped with essential life skills and confidence needed to communicate worldwide.”

    Working tirelessly to promote ESB language qualifications at conferences and events across the country, Europalso President, George Zikopolous says: “Every year, over 17,000 students in language schools across Greece sit ESB ESOL International assessments. Our learners are usually assessed in two examination sittings in Summer and Winter with some of our largest centres in Athens, Thessaloniki and Larissa. To be able to offer our learners the opportunity to take their assessments at home or any other place of their choice, under the present circumstances, is a fantastic achievement!”

    ESB operates a successful and wide-ranging portfolio of communicative and accessible ESOL International qualifications from A1 to C2 level, mapped to the Common European Framework, enabling learners to achieve a qualification at each stage of their learning journey.

    ESB’s B1 to C2 level qualifications are recognised and regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) and the ESB Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International C2 qualification also comes with the added attraction of gaining up to 36 UCAS points, a valuable incentive for learners wanting to access higher education in the UK.

    Empowering its learners with the opportunity to gain access to further and higher education and enhance their employability is one of ESB’s main goals.

    To find out more about our online ESOL International assessments, please contact a member of ESB’s Product Development Team at product@esbuk.org or 01695 573439 extension 218.

    Alternatively, if you would like to find out more about the ESOL International qualifications we offer, please click here.

  • Update regarding ESB assessments for ESOL Skills for Life and Speech qualifications

    Dear Centres,

    Following on from my last update on February 25th, I can now confirm the process for assessing our Speech and Language qualifications.

    It has been fantastic to see our centres in England reopening this month and assessments being booked and already taking place.

    On Friday, 26th March, Ofqual published details of the new framework, which Awarding Organisations must work alongside to support centres and learners in achieving the qualifications they have been working towards. 

    Outcomes for ESB International’s UK based centres and assessments

    The primary aim is for assessments to take place wherever possible, as long as they can be carried out safely.

    ESB International’s Speech and ESOL Skills for Life Speaking and Listening assessments will continue to take place remotely until half term. We use the video conferencing facility that centres habitually use and that your learners are used to. We sincerely hope to be able to return to face-to-face assessments in June, but will need to follow public health guidance at all times. We will review offering face-to-face assessments again and share any updates with you ready for the beginning of the last half term of the academic year.

    Centres booking ESOL Skills for Life Reading or Writing assessments will need to manage these assessments within public health guidelines.

    Teacher Assessed Grades:

    There may be a range of circumstances where centres were not or may not be able to carry out assessments, in which case a form of teacher assessed grades (TAGs) could be used for learners affected. Teacher Assessed Grades will not occur under the same circumstances as the previous Centre Assessed Grades.

    In relation to ESB centres and assessments, because we are an on demand model, occasions whereby Teacher Assessed Grades may need to be used will be minimal, as centres in most circumstances can rebook assessments which they may have had to cancel or delay. This position is in line with the outcomes of the initial consultation.

    We envisage few circumstances where ESB centres may need to use Teacher Assessed Grades:

    • Where cancelled assessments cannot be rebooked as learners have finished their course.
    • Where assessments cannot take place on public health grounds or remotely.
      Note – Teacher assessed grades will not apply to our Graded Examinations in Speech.

    The guidance documentation and links to associated forms for Teacher Assessed Grades can be found here:

    ESB Centre Guidance for Teacher Assessed Grades Download

    Form 1: Application for Teacher Assessed Grades: https://forms.gle/ip8heaojxkoR8MJL9

    Form 2: Head of Centre Declaration: https://forms.gle/gGJWqusDxvUhQ9ZW7

    If you feel your circumstances may require the use of Teacher Assessed Grades as outlined above, please contact the Product Development team at product@esbuk.org to discuss things further.

    So please do book your ESB assessments with confidence and as previously shared with you, detailed information about how we are adapting qualifications, and what centres and learners need to do to prepare for remote assessments are set out in the guidance documents below:-

    ESB Centre Guidance for Synchronous Adapted Speech Assessments Download
    ESB Centre Guidance for Adapted ESOL Skills for Life AssessmentsDownload


    If you have any questions about these guidance documents or delivering adapted assessments, again please contact the Product Development team at product@esbuk.org.

    You’ll see a new look ESB website ready for the Summer Term and we hope it provides you with clearer information for your ESB journey and a real sense of just how impactful ESB assessments are to your learners. 

    I wish you a restful Easter break.




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

  • English Speaking Board (International) introduces its new “e-certificate first” programme!

    ESB is taking its qualifications’ certificates for its ESOL International centres and their learners to the next level by moving to an innovative Electronic Certificate service.

    The Digital Certificates Web is a holistic secure document system, creating a self-service secure web portal for learners and centres to access their awarding documents.

    Placing learners at the forefront of its assessments, the service allows centres and their learners to view their e-certificates online, and on any online device, 24/7/365 days a year.

    Celebrating the introduction of its newly launched “e-certificate first” service, ESB’s Chief Executive Tina Renshaw, says: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to provide an even better service for our centres and learners! Our e-certificates are fully secure and can be viewed and downloaded through our secure portal.

    “Preparing today’s learner for tomorrow’s world is something we are passionate about here at ESB. Learners receive a fully recognised certificate highlighting their achievement, but we never think of it as simply a ‘certificate’, it’s more like a golden ticket to help them progress on every step of their journey!”

    Why e-certs first?

    The benefits and security features of digital certificates ensure verification of authenticity and maintain the highest levels of protection against fraudulent attack, including:

    • QR Code Scanning Technology / Smart Verify (2D Barcode). Easily access, scan and verify e-certificates on a smartphone or any other online device. Each electronic certificate contains a Smart Verify Code; a QR code which, when scanned using a device such as a mobile phone camera, redirects you to the Smart Verify Portal. This then displays the electronic certificate and provides crucial information about whether the document is valid, has expired or has been cancelled.
    • Environmentally-friendly and reduce our carbon footprint.

    ESB’s e-certificates are available for both paper-based and online assessments and e-certificate portals are available for the following groups:

    Learners’ Portal: A hub where ESB learners can directly access their e-certificates, order one free printed copy, and ‘connect’ and share their e-certificates with Employers and Education Providers. 

    Centres’ Portal: A hub for the staff of ESB centres to view their learners’ e-certificates. It also comes with the added bonus of enabling centres to print and download e-certificates for presentation events or for auditing purposes.

    Third-Party Portal: A hub for Employers and Education Providers to connect with learners and view their e-certificates. 

    Learners can still receive printed certificates, if they wish. The Learner Portal also permits learners to order one free printed certificate, in addition to their e-certificate. Printed copies are also extremely secure, containing their own security features such as a bespoke hologram overprinted with corporate colours/logo on controlled watermarked paper together with a unique security design, audit numbering, thermochromic ink and microtext. 

    Please watch the video below for an introduction into how ESB’s learner e-certificate portal works:

    If you as one of our centres would like to be part of our “e-certificates first” programme, please contact a member of our Customer Experience Team at customer@esbuk.org. 

    Here at ESB, we want to support all learners to possess the oracy and English language skills they need in order to achieve their aspirations, boosting progression and employability.

  • Birmingham School highlights the invaluable benefits of our speech qualifications for learners with special educational needs and disabilities

    One of our loyal centres, the Wilson Stuart School, a Special Academy located in Birmingham has voiced its positive views on the quality and value of our qualifications for learners with special educational needs and disabilities in a letter of support for continued Government funding.

    Trish Bowden, Director of English & Communication at Wilson Stuart School states, “Each of these qualifications has provided the correct level of content and challenge for our adult learners, particularly those with speech, language, and communication needs.

    “The emphasis on adult outcomes has always been beneficial: phone calls, interviews, CV writing, answering questions and responding to others appropriately and listening skills – many of our adults achieve supported, paid employment and for others volunteering in the community becomes more achievable – so these qualifications have been invaluable in preparing them for employability and volunteering.

    “We have also found the visits from the external examiners to be another invaluable part of the process – the interaction with an unfamiliar person provides another ‘real life’ experience in a very constructive way.”

    ESB Chief Executive, Tina Renshaw adds, “I was thrilled to read this letter of support for the case to Government to continue funding these qualifications as part of a Government Review of the ESFA funding program and to hear about the fantastic impact that our assessments continue to have on our learners. These qualifications support learners to develop key communication skills which remove barriers to learning by enabling access to a wide range of curricula, building relationships and a sense of belonging, developing self-esteem and a positive self-identity.”

    If you wish to read the full letter of support for funding of our qualifications for learners with special educational needs and disabilities, please click here.

    Our purpose is to support all learners to possess the oracy skills they need in order to achieve their aspirations. Particularly in that purpose we seek to realise the potential of all by closing the disadvantage gap. ESB International is dedicated to the outcome that this group of learners have the opportunities to develop and demonstrate their Oracy skills and build their confidence to lead full and productive lives.

    Interested in our Speech qualifications? There is no time like the present, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today! Read about the qualifications that we have on offer here, or alternatively if you simply wish to have an informal chat about our qualifications, please contact a member of the Product Development Team at product@esbuk.org.