Cross-party support for UK ELT at Parliamentary Reception
English UK's annual Parliamentary Reception attracted cross-party support, with many MPs and peers offering to support our main campaigning aims.
Our updated position paper, launched at the event, urged the government to go further and faster on our six aims, three of which have been partially achieved. Around 16 parliamentarians and over a hundred English UK members, sector stakeholders and agent partners attended the event on the Terrace of the House of Commons.
Main speaker Baroness Smith, the minister for skills and co-chair of the new Education Sector Action Group, praised our sector for its economic and practical value to the UK and its communities, giving young people a lifelong affinity to the UK. "That's why I'm keen to reinforce the government's strong support and to discuss shared priorities, including boosting exports, and maintaining competitive accessible routes for learners," she said, adding that she was pleased with ELT's engagement with the new International Education Strategy.
Thanking our chief executive Jodie Gray for her work on the education sector action group, Jacqui Smith said it gave a really good foundation for building the sector action plan. "Working together, I think we can ensure the UK leads the world in English language training and reaps the economic, social and cultural rewards this delivers to communities the length and breadth of our nation."
English UK chair Shoko Doherty, addressing the reception, told a moving story of how her teenage son's life had been transformed by studying in a Japanese school for one term. "That made me feel really emotional – and that's what I want to say. We don't teach language, we transform lives."
Campaigning at the reception was focusing on two of our almost-achieved asks, she said – ID card travel and youth mobility. "These changes cannot come fast enough for our industry, which has battled a decade of challenges, including the end of freedom of movement, Covid and now increasing international uncertainty. But UK ELT deserves to thrive.
"We are honoured to be a core member of the new Education Sector Action Group and to be writing the ELT sector action plan for the new international education strategy. But we need is a better environment to thrive which is why our asks are critical."
MPs support for English UK members
Members of Parliament are encouraged to meet their constituents which is why it is vital that English UK members get involved with the annual reception. Attendees this year included Josh Babarinde, the MP for Eastbourne, who met owners of Twin Group, Jacqui and Caroline Fox.
Recalling having ELT students from ELAC staying in his family home during the summer, Josh said he was keen to learn about the industry. "This is so important for so many families who host students, among others," he said, wondering if some of the problems for the industry were a result of over-regulation.
Steve Darling, MP for Torbay who attended with his guide dog Jennie, was enthusing about a recent visit to Torbay International Language School. "The students give a real boost to the local community and after Brexit there are lots of reasons it is more difficult to travel. We want people to be able to come here and build relationships and for children to be able to come on their ID cards. The students stay in people's homes and they have relationships around the world."
Liam Conlon, MP for Penge and Beckenham, was one of the first MPs to call for a UK-EU youth mobility scheme and was interested to hear more detail of our asks around that, ID cards and Erasmus+. "Young people want that opportunity to expand their horizons, and so I am really pleased to see the government engage with that and Erasmus+ now. Young people also come here to build a relationship with the UK, which has benefits in the long term," he said.
MPs who came were Josh Babarinde (MP for Eastbourne), Steve Darling (MP for Torbay), Rupa Huq (MP for Ealing Central and Acton), Anneliese Dodds (MP for Oxford East), Rachael Maskell (MP for York Central), Damian Hinds (MP for East Hampshire), Baroness Smith of Malvern (Minister of State), Liam Conlon (MP for Beckenham and Penge), Daniel Zeichner (MP for Cambridge) and Jim Dickson (MP for Dartford).
Peers included Lord Raval OBE, Baron Howell of Guildford, Baroness Hooper CMG, Lord McDonald of Salford and the recently retired Baroness Quinn, with researchers from the offices of Rachel Hopkins (MP for Luton South and South Bedfordshire) and Paul Kohler (MP for Wimbledon). Many of them left offering to ask questions and write letters on our behalf.
English UK's six policy recommendations are:
- expand career-enhancing travel opportunities for young people
- extend ID card travel for school groups from the EU
- recognise UK ELT's accreditation scheme for student visas
- make the most of Erasmus+
- increase rent-a-room tax relief to preserve UK ELT's unique offer
- provide stronger support for growth in the UK ELT sector
previous entry <<
