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Algo5
Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Posts: 13
Location: London
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 Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 11:43 pm Post subject: BC accreditation = you'll be paid? |
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I've noticed that the British Council has a list of accredited UK centres here:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation-az-list.htm
and wanted to ask the more experienced folks on this board: would you say that BC accreditation is any guarantee that a school will actually pay you (however low the wages may be)? Or are there cases of teachers being scammed by schools that have BC accreditation?
I was thinking of enquiring r.e. this Wimbledon Language Academy school, as it's quite near where I'm living:
www.wlang.co.uk
Haven't found any dirt on them so far, but y'never know... |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Their website makes it look like an Elocution Academy where common folk are taught to ape their betters and pretend to talk posh. |
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Dedicated
Joined: 18 May 2007
Posts: 972
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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Hello Algo5,
I think Scot47's post should be on another link!
As for BC accreditation, this is no guarantee that an employee will pay you, but generally, if a school has been licensed by the UK Border Agency to enrol international students under Tier 4 of the new TIER 4 points based immigration system, then they are reliable. The BC has nothing to do with salary payment.
It is also easy in England to seek legal recourse or the support of a Union if you are not paid or treated fairly. It is not like the same situation overseas.
Good luck! |
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Mr_Monkey
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 661
Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Dedicated wrote: |
| As for BC accreditation, this is no guarantee that an employee will pay you, but generally, if a school has been licensed by the UK Border Agency to enrol international students under Tier 4 of the new TIER 4 points based immigration system, then they are reliable. The BC has nothing to do with salary payment. |
Additionally, accreditation is, as far as I am aware, a condition of UKBA licensing.
I saw this on the website:
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| Maximum class size is 25. |
Stack 'em high, sell 'em cheap. |
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Algo5
Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Posts: 13
Location: London
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| Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks folks! 25 students per class does seem pretty excessive :s
Oh well... |
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Kofola
Joined: 20 Feb 2009
Posts: 159
Location: Slovakia
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| Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 4:36 am Post subject: |
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| I thought class size was one of the requirements for getting BC accreditation? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 8:56 am Post subject: |
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| 25 ? Is that all? In Africa we regularly had 60 and more. |
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Mr_Monkey
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 661
Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu
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| Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 11:11 am Post subject: |
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| Kofola wrote: |
| I thought class size was one of the requirements for getting BC accreditation? |
Descriptions of maximum class sizes in publicity materials must be accurate.
Available learning resources and materials should be sufficient for class sizes and the overall numbers of students enrolled.
How well the teacher handles large class sizes will be one of the things an inspector will assess during an accreditation observation.
There is no specific accreditation criterion that limits class sizes.
| Quote: |
| 25 ? Is that all? In Africa we regularly had 60 and more. |
I know how many students I'd prefer to teach in a class. |
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PattyFlipper
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 572
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| Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 5:34 am Post subject: |
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| Kofola wrote: |
| I thought class size was one of the requirements for getting BC accreditation? |
Summer School at the British Council Hong Kong (run by the Council itself) was packing them in 40 to class!
BC "accreditation" for UK language schools is almost meaningless semantics. All but the very worst fly-by-night, hole-in-the-wall operators can get it. The "inspection" is announced weeks in advance, giving the less-scrupulous (probably about 90%) ample opportunity to send half their punters out on a "study visit", and plonk brand new, never before seen text books in front of the remainder. Rather like the Red Cross visits to POW camps in wartime Germany.
The British Council should put its own pretentious house in order before being allowed to approve others. |
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oxi
Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 347
Location: elsewhere
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| Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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| PattyFlipper wrote: |
| Kofola wrote: |
| I thought class size was one of the requirements for getting BC accreditation? |
Summer School at the British Council Hong Kong (run by the Council itself) was packing them in 40 to class!
BC "accreditation" for UK language schools is almost meaningless semantics. All but the very worst fly-by-night, hole-in-the-wall operators can get it. The "inspection" is announced weeks in advance, giving the less-scrupulous (probably about 90%) ample opportunity to send half their punters out on a "study visit", and plonk brand new, never before seen text books in front of the remainder. Rather like the Red Cross visits to POW camps in wartime Germany.
The British Council should put its own pretentious house in order before being allowed to approve others. |
Nonsense - there were only 37 in my last summer school class, and we had brand new, never before seen photocopies - almost every lesson, except for the ones when I'd finished my quota of photocopies. |
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