Since 1982, the British Council has set the benchmark for English Language Teaching (ELT) in the UK. In partnership with English UK since 2006, Accreditation UK is recognised as one of the world’s most rigorous inspection frameworks for English language providers.
Our Impact
In 2023, accredited UK English Language Teaching (ELT) centres welcomed nearly 400,000 international students, highlighting the sector’s global appeal. This dynamic industry plays a vital role in the UK economy - historically contributing £1.4 billion annually and supporting around 35,700 jobs across education, hospitality, and tourism. With over 350 accredited language centres nationwide, the British Council continues to uphold high standards that reinforce the UK’s reputation as a world leader in education.
Accreditation benefits
British Council accreditation assures students, parents, and education advisors of high-quality standards, backed by independent information about accredited centres. Students benefit from a wide range of courses and locations, transparent advertising, clear complaints procedures, and protection in the event of centre closures. For language centres, accreditation brings increased visibility, professional development opportunities, dedicated support, and eligibility for English UK membership.
Governance and quality assurance
Accreditation UK is an independent quality assurance scheme jointly managed by the British Council and English UK. Its governance is overseen by an Executive Board and the Accreditation Scheme Advisory Committee (ASAC), ensuring that strategic direction is guided by sector expertise and robust oversight.
Our rigorous inspection process evaluates all aspects of English language teaching (ELT), including teaching standards, facilities and resources, student welfare, safeguarding, and management practices. Accredited centres undergo a full inspection every four years, supplemented by unannounced interim visits to maintain consistent quality.
Further details on how we monitor accredited centres can be found here.