{"id":1090,"date":"2025-09-19T11:58:34","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T10:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/18.134.14.60\/wordpress\/?page_id=1090"},"modified":"2026-01-21T11:50:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T11:50:09","slug":"esol-centres-learners","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/esol-skills-for-life\/esol-centres-learners\/","title":{"rendered":"ESOL Centres & Learners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What institutions can deliver our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications?<\/strong> <\/h1>\n\n\n\n

We enjoy excellent relationships with our centres, and many have remarked on the support they receive from Head Office, the friendliness of our assessors and the positive impact that achieving our qualifications has had on their learners. Our ESOL community is comprised of a variety of UK-based institutions, and learners can access our qualifications at organisations from any of the following groups: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Further Education <\/strong>Colleges<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We work with some of the largest FE Colleges in the country and can accommodate bookings at scale that may run over multiple days and campuses. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Local Adult Education and Skills Services<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We have great working relationships with local adult learning services in major cities like London, Liverpool, and Bristol.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Charity\/Community Initiatives<\/strong>:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Our external assessments are the simple solution for any small centre looking to get accredited qualifications for its community members for whom English is a second language.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Scalable ESOL assessment solutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ESB International is proud to support some of the largest providers of ESOL Skills for Life qualifications in the country. Our external assessments are flexible by design, and when coupled with a responsive team and a commitment to overcoming any logistical challenges that assessing large cohorts can bring, we have a proven track record of delivering a high-quality assessment experience \u2013 no matter the scale. Furthermore, ESOL Skills for Life centres with learner registrations exceeding \u00a310,000 per academic year will be eligible for complimentary initial tutor training, along with one free annual training update session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Thank you for all your hard work put in to accommodating such a huge volume of students from CoBC.  You and your team have all been incredibly flexible<\/strong>, understanding<\/strong> and supportive<\/strong> whenever we\u2019ve reached out for help.”<\/p>\nAlina Garner, ESOL Programme Manager
City of Bristol College<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How would switching to English Speaking Board impact the different departments in my organisation?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re part of a large ESOL provision, we understand that switching to another awarding organisation can be an undertaking that impacts on multiple areas of your organisational structure. To make the transition as seamless as possible, we have prepared guidance that details the potential impact that changing your ESOL awarding organisation to ESB International could have on the functional teams within your institution. If you would like to hear more about our onboarding process, please contact our Business Strategy Team<\/a> who will provide you with a comprehensive roadmap that will guide you through every step of the journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What your senior leadership need to know<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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ESOL Skills for Life qualifications are the same size across Awarding Organisations, whether they deliver internally or externally, and are subject to the same funding rules.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What your curriculum manager needs to know<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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To ensure smooth implementation of ESB\u2019s ESOL Skills for Life qualifications, a training session with our Senior Assessor will be arranged to familiarise your tutors with marking criteria and align specifications with current schemes of work. We advise your exams team on how to book assessments, plan Speaking & Listening assessment timetables and apply Reasonable Adjustments. Ensure to delegate a member of staff to manage centre registration and read and sign our Centre Agreement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What your tutors need to know<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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ESB ESOL Skills for Life qualifications align with National Standards for Adult Literacy and the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum, ensuring consistency in knowledge and skills. To prepare learners, review our sample papers and videos of past assessments, pair learners for Speaking & Listening assessments providing ample preparation time and assist Level 1 + Level 2 learners with preparing their presentations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What your exams team need to know<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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To manage ESB assessments, register your organisation online as an ESB Centre. You will be invited to attend a webinar to learn about making a booking. Book Speaking & Listening assessments at least 28 days in advance (or earlier if you plan to book during peak months) and Reading and Writing assessments with at least 2 days\u2019 notice. Upon confirmation, input learners\u2019 names and details along with any Reasonable Adjustments onto your booking. You can access results on your \u2018MyESB\u2019 Hub after assessments and distribute certificates to successful learners.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What your finance team needs to know<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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Following discussions with the ESB Business Strategy Team and completion of registration documentation, you will be invoiced a one-time registration fee of \u00a3215 and for mandatory teacher training \u2013 both covered during initial meetings. If a supplier set-up is required, submit the necessary documentation for prompt processing. Invoices for bookings are issued the day after assessment, with full payment required before certificates are released.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How does it affect your learners?<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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Learners complete assessments in pairs, so practising Speaking & Listening together is essential. While they may feel apprehensive about being assessed by an ESB International assessor rather than their teacher, the assessor\u2019s friendly and approachable nature will quickly ease their concerns. This interaction also benefits learners by preparing them for real-life communication scenarios with strangers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Download offline version<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why ESB International is the right choice for Tutors<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We believe that supporting tutors is key to learner success. That\u2019s why our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications are externally assessed and marked, removing the burden of assessment away from tutors<\/strong>. This not only improves tutor wellbeing by reducing workload during busy exam periods but also enhances teaching and learning by freeing up valuable time to focus on high-quality lesson planning and delivery. The learner experience is further supported by our personalised assessor reports, offering tutors invaluable insights into their students’ strengths and areas for development. Our accredited, external certificates carry great value for learners as being assessed by an external assessor is ideal preparation for university or employment interviews. Our pass rates reflect the strength of our approach and our commitment to both tutors and learners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can ESB International accommodate learners who may be relocated at short notice? <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

We care passionately about supporting ESOL learners and understand the challenges they face, particularly those who may be relocated at short notice. To ensure that these learners don\u2019t miss out on achieving their Reading and Writing qualifications, we offer a fast-track service<\/strong> for centres to overcome rapid changes in circumstance for any learner in your cohort. To find out more about our fast-track service, please discuss your circumstances with our Product Team<\/a> in advance of your assessment date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our ESOL Skills for Life learners<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

An ESB International ESOL Skills for Life learner may be anyone who speaks English as an acquired language or is a multi-lingual learner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Who can take an ESOL Skills for Life qualification?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n