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Shock closure of language school sparks
crisis fears
Pupils informed of college ‘liquidation’ by the British Council
MYSTERY surrounds the sudden closure of a prestigious Covent Garden language school, which has left scores of students facing an agonising wait to see if they will be placed elsewhere.
Students at Sels College in Long Acre, where fees are as high as £350 a week, received letters from the British Council on Saturday informing them that the school was going into liquidation.
The move sparked fears that the foreign language students will face a battle to recover fees and some, yet to arrive in London and may not find other places for weeks.
More than 50 students attended an emergency meeting on Wednesday with representatives of the British Council and English UK, which accredits courses at the 150-pupil school.
A spokeswoman from English UK said places at other colleges could be found for all students.
She said: “We are shocked by the abruptness of the closure. We have written to all the students currently taking courses at the college. They will not lose any money if they agree to go to another college which will be covered by our emergency fund.
“We are trying to contact the 40 or so students who have booked courses and are still abroad. In terms of the staff there is always plenty of work for language teachers.”
It is understood there are six members of teaching staff and a number of administrative staff whose lost earnings would not be covered by the emergency fund.
Oscar Gregan, who has a contract with the school to accommodate students said: “We received a letter on Saturday morning after the college shut on Friday and the girl who was staying with us was very distressed.
“She said students were turning up on Monday morning thinking it was business as usual. It was so sudden and unexpected.
“I have been told I will get my money back but I don’t think the fund stretches to teachers or to pupils who want out. I imagine the closure will cause problems for other schools. They will be swamped.”
The college teaches English to groups of between five and nine students from across Europe and Japan.
The owner of Sels, College, which has been in Covent Garden for 30 years, was unavailable for comment. |
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