Page 32 - ELG1901 Jan-Feb 463

RANKING 2019 .

Behind the branding
Behind the

Melanie Butler looks at the inspection results of the top ELT chains

hen you buy a branded product, performing operation to its lowest. This is Eurocentres receives the maximum two points
you expect consistent quality. Is particularly noticeable in the chains, shaded for consistency.
the same true of language school in the table, which have young learner By contrast, just over half the six chains
Wchains? To find out, we analysed operations. with such operations have a higher adjusted
the inspections of the top chains. The normal range of distribution in UK score and none get the maximum bonus of
We measured mean average quality language schools is 8 net strengths (see page two points.
by calculating the net areas of strengths 26). So, if all the schools in a chain score Only one chain, St Giles, has a young
awarded (after any needs for improvement within an 8 point range we have added one learner school as their highest performer,
are deducted). As you see from the table, the bonus point to the score, to recognize that though British Study Centres young
mean average score for all the chains listed relative consistency. Where they score within learners matches the mean average score
is significantly above the industry average of a tighter 4 point range, the adjusted score has for the group.
five net strengths. two extra points. For three of the chains that run them, their
However, the scores for individual school The scores of both the chains without young learners operations are their worst
in a chain can vary widely from highest separate young learners operations go up. performers.

Chain AVG adj AVG High High Low Low Range Bonus
1 Eurocentres 10.8 12.8 Eltham 13 London Central 9 4 2
2 Bell 10.0 11.0 Cambridge 14 London 7 7 1
3 Kaplan 9.8 10.8 Oxford 13 Summer Schools 5 8 1
4 EF 8.9 9.9 Oxford 12 Executive Cambridge 6 6 1
5 BSC 8.1 9.1 Hampstead 12 York 5 7 1
6 EC 9.0 9.0 Bristol & Oxford 12 Young Learners 1 11
7 St Giles 8.5 8.5 London & Highgate 12 Cambridge 2 10
8 King's 7.8 7.8 London 12 Summer Camps 3 9
9 Stafford House 6.4 7.4 Canterbury 11 Cambridge 4 7 1

SECRET

SECTORS
ISSN 0732-5819
Melanie Butler explores EL Discover Ltd
four more centre types Unit 3, Constantine Court
6 Fairclough Street
London E1 1PW, UK
Business English. There are now only seven
accredited centres in the UK entirely focussed NILE centre at Hales Hall, Norwich +44 (0)20 3971 8305
on professional English. On average they www.elgazette.com
outperform the industry norm with a mean Further Education Colleges. Although this
average score of 6.5 . The top business English is a medium sized sector covering 44 centres it Editor-in-chief: Melanie Butler
Centre is Linguarama London. was not included in the main analysis because melanie@elgazette.com
the reports for four out of the 12 colleges
Teacher Training Specialists. There are only inspected this so far this year were published Managing editor: Ron Ragsdale
three accredited operations specializing in after the cut off date for inclusion in the News editor: Matt Salusbury
teacher training, all of them occasionally take rankings. Traditionally a high performing Research reporter: Gill Ragsdale
groups of young learners. The sample is too sector offering excellent value for money, Sales: Tom Parrish
small for the average to be meaningful but the the sector has been effected in the last five editorial@elgazette.com
top performer by far is NILE Norwich with 14 years by government cuts and forced mergers.
net areas of strength. Currently the mean average score is 5, just Administration: Shirley Porter
shirley@elgazette.com
Home Tuition. Three operators specialize in under the industry norm. But there are signs
offering students the opportunity to live in of a strong recovery the average score for Subscriptions: Webscribe
their teachers him. The sample is too small colleges inspected in 2017 was 6 and so far subs@webscribe.co.uk
for the average to be meaningful but t he top in 2018 it is running neck and neck with the +44 (0)1442 879097
performer is Living Learning English, Bristol. university sector at 8 net areas of strength.

32 January/February 2019