British Study Centres News
British Study Centres Oxford Raises £1000 For Children In Need
Here at British Study Centres in Oxford we have been feeling extremely proud of our students and staff recently. Last week the school’s Social Programme Coordinator, Lisa Selwood, timetabled daily fund raising activities culminating in a day long international student market, which students and their teachers organised themselves, selling food, products and services in competition with each other to see which class could raise the most cash for Children in Need 2012.
The day was an unprecedented success, with a grand total of £1000 raised! The winning class CB 31 INT managed to raise an astounding £163 by themselves! Their teacher Elena Williamson was overjoyed with their efforts, commending their ability to work cooperatively in the medium of the English language. As a reward for coming first in the fund raising competition Elena’s class will be excused from classes and taken to London tomorrow for a day of sightseeing and museum visits!
School Director, Niko Phillips, commented on the success of this class and of all the students at British Study Centres Oxford ‘It’s heart-warming to witness this disparate group of 130 or so students, all members of the international community, coming from very different backgrounds and striving towards their individual futures, working together to do such good. It really goes to show that we have so much in common with each other, regardless of where we come from, particularly when it comes to improving the lives of children – a shared goal for people across the globe’.
Clive Brown, the school’s Academic Director, also commented ‘It was really fantastic to see students of all levels of English practising their language skills in such an enjoyable way with each other. I am certain that their English competence will have improved as a direct result of contributing towards such an important event – and it’s good to think that Children in Need will benefit from these activities. As I walk around the school, it is clear that they are more motivated and feel better about themselves as useful members of the local Oxford community and British society as a whole’.
Well done to all the students and staff at British Study Centres in Oxford!
British Study Centres Scoops Two Awards at STM Awards!
British Study Centres has scooped two awards at the prestigious Study Travel Magazine awards ceremony at London's Hilton Park Lane.
First up, BSC won the trophy for Star English Language School Europe (also nominated were: London School of English, Churchill House, UIC, Linguaviva Dublin). This is the second time BSC has been victorious in this category following its previous win in 2010.
Secondly, BSC was honoured to win the category Star Junior Courses for under 18's (also nominated were: EC Malta, Kaplan, Embassy CES, Churchill House, Tamwood International Canada).
This is the first time in the history of the awards that an organisation has done the 'double' in both Adult and Junior categories.
The awards are voted for by readers of Study Travel Magazine - essentially, language professionals and agents across the world – and are highly sought after.
An elated Andrew Roper, BSC's Managing Director, commented: 'I am absolutely ecstatic to pick up these two awards on behalf of the company. I would like to thank all of our teachers, marketing and admin staff who have worked so hard towards this. It is a huge honour for the company to have collected such prestigious awards. The competition in both categories is extremely intense – there are hundreds of eligible schools – and to win both awards is a huge feather in our cap. Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us.'
BSC Brighton's 10th Birthday Celebration
Staff, colleagues and friends gathered at British Study Centres, Brighton earlier this month to celebrate the school's 10th birthday with a glass of bubby and some delicious canapés made by the school Chef Martin Richardson.
Simon Cleaver, BSC Chairman, recalled: "When we opened our doors back in 2002, we had just 3 students and now 10 years later it is very gratifying to have a built up a busy, bustling centre with over 150 students studying here."
John Veale, School Director, thanked everyone for their contributions over the last 10 years in making the school such a success. He said that all the staff should feel very proud as the school had made some really impressive achievements. Over the last 10 tears we have welcomed, taught, trained, accommodated, fed, watered and entertained over 7000 students and teachers. In addition BSC has proven its commitment to quality through exceeding the expectations of both the British Council and Independent Schools Inspectorate accreditation schemes. The glowing feedback we regularly get from our students certainly shows that they leave with smiles on their faces!
London Voted the 2nd Best Student City in the World!
London has come second, beaten only by Paris, in a ranking of the world's 50 best cities for students according the QS Best Student Cities study which was also published on the BBC website.
So what makes London such an attractive place to study?
Some would argue that London can be quite an expensive city for students. Yet for many, it is the vast array of world-class educational institutions, the professional as well as social opportunities, and its multicultural feel along with its unique way to mix the historical and the cutting-edge, that makes studying in London worth every penny.
Students appreciate the myriad of cultural activities which the capital has to offer, its concerts, shows, galleries, parks, gardens, museums and not forgetting the very many historic buildings and monuments. London's proximity to continental Europe and its numerous transport links make it an ideal location as a base for international students.
New Superior Student House Next to Camden Town
BSC London has taken on a fantastic new property for our students. It is a new type of accommodation offered by our London school, a superior student house!
The beautiful Victorian house has been renovated from top to bottom and houses 4 twin and 4 double rooms. Each bedroom enjoys it's own, beautiful en-suite bathroom. The house has a fantastic modern kitchen and conservatory at the rear of the house. Here students can enjoy dinner with their house mates or relax with the plasma screen TV. In the summer months when the weather is a little warmer there is a lovely decked patio area for students to enjoy.
The house is situated in Kentish Town. This is in zone 2 of London, just a 5 minute walk from the Underground station and on the borders of the very popular Camden Town. The house is close to an array of shops restaurants and bars and the famous Kentish Town Forum. An excellent venue for gigs in London. The journey time to school should be no longer than 30 minutes.
The house enjoys wireless internet connection and a cleaner visits the property every week to clean the communal areas of the house.
We believe this house offers an outstanding standard of accommodation to our students and will be very popular with everyone. We hope you enjoy your stay!
John Veale Celebrates 10 Years with BSC!
Last Friday was a very special day for our Brighton school – our School Director, John Veale, celebrated 10 years with British Study Centres! A surprise party was arranged for John, involving both the Student Services team and the Academic Team. Special guest appearances were made by the Managing Director, Andrew Roper and the Chairman, Simon Cleaver. John had no idea of the celebration and appeared very moved by the gesture. Champagne, presents and speeches were order of the day!
John has been with the school since it launched ten years ago and has overseen the development of the school from when there were only a few students and two or three teachers, to a school now with 18 classrooms and a teaching team of 25 plus. The school has grown a lot during this time which has required good leadership to help everything go smoothly – where the Student Services management and Academic Management has changed, the School Director has always remained the same. This was just a small thanks for all the hard work he has put in to the school – BSC Brighton wouldn't be the same without him!
British Study Centres - America
British Study Centres is expanding into the US market by acquiring American operator, Access to Language Studies. With 4 established summer schools in the UK, this is our first foray overseas. Summer 2012 will see the group open four centres on both coasts of America (Boston, New York & San Diego). The move into the US market reflects our confidence in the growing junior sector.
Director of the Juniors' Division at British Study Centres, Matt Simmonite, says: 'This is an exciting opportunity for our group, fantastic new centres, in a new country, with a new Head of US Operations, we're absolutely thrilled with the prospect and looking forward to the challenge.'
Managing Director, Andrew Roper, adds: 'The junior market is booming. We launched our UK junior schools in 2009 and we've seen phenomenal growth every summer since. We're delighted to be opening 4 new locations in the States this summer, as well as our new centre in Edinburgh. Our strategy for the next 2-3 years is to continue to grow the junior division and this includes adding new and exciting locations and programmes. We feel that the next 5-10 years will see further rapid growth in the juniors' sector. We're seeing parents investing in their children's futures, their decision making clearly focusing on short intensive courses of study in the summer months and often including an additional element, too. Golf, horse riding, football, water sport and tennis are all options we offer, combined with a course of English.'
We're delighted to be joined by a respected and experienced industry expert, Dilermando Silva, who will head up BSC's new American division and brings with him a wealth of knowledge, experience and understanding of the juniors language travel industry in America.
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British Study Centres School of English is a member of British Study Centres Group, which, in addition to the Schools of English, consists of two vocational colleges: West London College and Hove College.
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