Unexpected closure of Bishopstrow College and Padworth Summer School

The imminent closure of English UK member centres, Bishopstrow College in Warminster and Padworth Summer School in Reading, was announced on Wednesday 25 June 2025. On Monday 30 June the schools entered administration. A small number of staff will remain in place for a few days to deal with the situation. 

Year round and summer school locations impacted

The closure affects junior students at both the year round and summer school locations. The summer school students were due to travel imminently for their UK adventure. It is a highly distressing time for staff, students, parents and agents. 

Support from English UK and fellow member centres

We are grateful for the professionalism of the staff at Bishopstrow and Padworth who have continued to work after the closure to ensure students are safe and have the ongoing accommodation they need. Thank you also to all the English UK members who have provided us with cost price offers at very short notice – we're grateful for your help and concern. 

To support those impacted by the closure, English UK is using its Student Emergency Support (SES) scheme in two ways. Firstly, we're allocating SES funds to help cover emergency accommodation and transport for students who are currently enrolled and impacted. Secondly, we're helping to coordinate offers for replacement residential courses to present to agents and parents so that students who are yet to arrive and still wish to study in the UK this summer can choose from a range of courses and locations and fulfil their plans. 

All students who arrived last weekend have been successfully placed. We will compile the new offers next week and send them out to agents and parents. 

Thank you once again to everyone for their support and generosity during this challenging time.  

Are you impacted and require support?

Students and their representatives seeking compensation for fees paid to Bishopstrow or Padworth are advised to contact the administrator. We will share administrator details once we have them. 

If you are affected by this closure and require support, please don't hesitate to contact Naadiya or Alice at membership@englishuk.com. 

More on the Student Emergency Support scheme

The English UK Student Emergency Support scheme provides help if a British Council accredited centre closes unexpectedly. 

The main purpose of the scheme is to limit the impact of a closure on current students. The scheme ensures students can continue at another British Council-accredited teaching centre and complete their studies without additional course costs. 

The scheme also tries to help students who have yet to arrive and who paid for an English language course due to start in the near future, although this is not guaranteed.

Find out more > Student Emergency Support (SES) Scheme