London School of English, Westcroft Square London
THE DESTINATION | THE SCHOOL | MAP | RACHEL’S TAKE | WHY THIS SCHOOL? | FACILITIES | THE COURSES | FROM OUR CLIENTS | HOUSING | SOCIAL LIFE | INSURANCE AND PRICING | REQUEST AN ESTIMATE | OTHER PROGRAMS | SIMILAR PROGRAMS
With over 100 years’ experience, the London School of English is a leader in the English language school market. Located in a pleasant residential area of London only minutes away from the center, the London School of English at Westcroft Square is able to offer a fantastic learning experience in one of the most exciting cities in the world.
London is the political, economic and cultural capital of Britain, with 33 boroughs bursting with world-class attractions for visitors of all ages. There are 30 historic gardens, 123 historic buildings, more than 200 museums, 600 cinema screens and 108 music halls. The river Thames runs through the heart of London, from Richmond in the west, through the central London borough of Westminster, to Greenwich in the east. About one third of London is devoted to parks and open spaces, so there are plenty of places to relax on fine days. The history of London goes back to over thousands of years, and The city boasts four World Heritage Sites: the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich and the Royal Botanic and Kew Gardens.
Westcroft Square is in Chiswick, a pleasant shopping and residential area, which is lively yet safe. The school is just 3 minutes’ walk from Stamford Brook underground station and 20 minutes from the center of London.
LSE WESTCROFT SQUARE AT A GLANCE
- Year of foundation: 1912
- City: London
- Position in the city: Chiswick, London
- Ages in adult school: minimum 18, average 29
- Number of students in school: average 105, maximum 150
- Main type of public transport: buses, underground and trains
- Approximate number of nationalities in school each year: 49
London School of English, Westcroft Square: 65 Westcroft Square, London W6 0TA, United Kingdom
“I have been working with the London School of English in both locations since the beginning of my career. It is the oldest language school in London (my own mother actually went here in the early 1960s, when it was located in Oxford Street!) and sets itself apart from the vast majority of London language schools, even good quality ones, for the fact that first of all, at Westcroft Square, the average age of students is 28, making it suitable for students of General English courses who don’t want to be in class with students who are younger, as tends to be the case even in language schools designated for “adults,” where it’s 23 years or younger. However, more important is the ranking of this school by the EL Gazette and British Council. I’ll explain a bit how it works: every four years, the British Council carries out an inspection of its 500 + member schools in the UK (nearly all reputable language schools in the UK are accredited by the British Council). During the inspection, in which two examiners inspect the school for days, they grade a school in 14 areas like teaching, care of students, accommodation, etc., and in 15 areas if the school also has programs for young learners, which the London School does not. For each area, a school can receive a grade of “acceptable,” or it can exceed the expectations of the examiner. When the latter is the case, the school receives what’s called a “strength” in that area. As a result of these inspections, language schools typically receive about 3.5 strengths. On its last inspection, The London School of English received 12 out of a possible 14, placing it among the top 4 schools in London and the top 20 among 500 + British Council accredited schools in the United Kingdom!
As for the area of the school, Westcroft Square is located in zone 2 of London, and is very well-connected to the center of the city. The area itself is beautiful, with all the conveniences of a good neighborhood (minus the overpriced international chains of everything found in the very center of London), and is a place to see many original Londoners and their families. When a student books a school in Zone 1 of London with host family accommodation (as I always recommend for learning the language), most likely he or she will be traveling 45 minutes to an hour to get to school. However, this school has many host families less than 30 minutes away. When a student does an intensive English course, much of the day will be spent in class or doing homework, so for much of the week the student will be staying in the local area, and being close to the accommodation is important for that. However, for the weekends and some evenings, all of the attractions of London are still just 20 minutes away. In that sense, the school offers the best of both worlds—and at a reasonable price for the London market.”
London School of English, Westcroft Square
Why study English at the London School?
There are countless English language schools in London, the world’s top destination for English language learning. The London School of English distinguishes itself from others in the following ways:
- Established in 1912, the London School of English is the longest-established officially accredited school in Britain.
- The school is of medium size: small enough to provide a personal service, but large enough to have excellent facilities and resources.
- The school’s three UK centers are based in prime locations: two in London and one in Canterbury.
- The London School of English is a member of both IALC and Quality English, two certifications that are more difficult to attain than the others for language schools around the world.
- Students at the London School of English are mature students, and all three centers provide a professional environment for students to learn in.
- The price of all courses includes a three-course lunch in the school restaurant.
- London School of English, Westcroft Square has a fantastic nationality mix, with students from over 49 different countries every year.
- The school is connected to the city center with excellent transport links.
- The school offers a free e-learning application called LondonSchool Online.
- In a city with many language schools offering host family accommodation, the school is able to offer excellent homestays and numerous student residences.
- The courses are competitively priced for the UK market and offer good value for money.
The facilities
LSE WESTCROFT SQUARE FACILITIES AT A GLANCE
- 14 classrooms
- Student Lounge
- Computer room
- Garden
- Restaurant
MORE ABOUT THE FACILITIES AND SERVICES
LondonSchool Online
From enrolment until three months after leaving, students will benefit from access to LondonSchool Online, the schools online language-learning platform. The platform has been specially developed for students’ needs and supports face-to-face training programs.
Free Lunch
The school prepares a free daily three-course lunch for students that provides an excellent opportunity for them to practice their English in a relaxed and informal setting.
Progress Monitoring
The school carefully monitors each student’s progress by using Individual Progress Reports. These reports are tailored to the specific learning objectives students identified in their pre-course questionnnaire.
Student Welfare
LSE is available to support students in a professional and confidential manner with any problems that might arise while they are away from home.
The courses
GENERAL ENGLISH AND EXAMINATION COURSES
- Age: minimum 18, average 29
- Lesson length: 60 minutes
- Class size: maximum 12
Intensive English Course / Intensive English Combination Course
The school offers 2 types of Intensive English courses: Group and Combination of group and individual lessons. The combination course combines 15 hours of group lessons and 15 hours of individual lessons per week.
- English levels: A1 – C2
- Course length: minimum 2 weeks
- Number of hours per week: 22 hours (group course) or 30 hours (combination course)
- Timetable: 09:15 – 15:45 Monday to Thursday and 09:15- 12:45 on Fridays
- Start dates: Semi-Flexible, see dates and fees
IELTS Preparation Course
- English levels: B1 to C1
- Course length: 9, 8 or 4 weeks
- Number of hours per week: 24 hours
- Timetable: 09:15 – 15:45 Monday to Friday
- Start dates: see dates and fees
Cambridge First and Advanced Exam Preparation courses
This course is intended for candidates who are preparing for the FCE and CAE exams.
- English levels: B1 to C1
- Course length: 9, 8 or 4 weeks
- Number of hours per week: 24 hours
- Timetable: 09:15 – 15:45 Monday to Friday
- Start dates: see dates and fees
English for University Course
This course delivers the academic English and practical study skills needed for degree level study at a UK university. It develops students’ confidence and competence in key areas such as research, critical analysis and extended writing. This course includes regular tutorials, needs assessments and visits to London universities.
- English levels: B1 to C1
- Course length: minimum 4 weeks
- Number of hours per week: 24 hours
- Timetable: 09:15 – 15:45 Monday to Thursday and 09:15- 12:45 on Fridays
- Start dates: see dates and fees
Academic Year Course
The Academic Year course allows students to combine three courses into one flexible study program. Combining relevant units from the Intensive General English, English for University and IELTS preparation courses, it can be tailored to suit students’ needs depending on their starting level and university goals.
- English levels: all levels
- Course length: minimum 24 weeks
- Number of hours per week: depends on chosen course
- Timetable: depends on chosen course
- Start dates: flexible
Individual English Training Course(also available online)
The school offers One-to-One or Two-to-One training for students requiring a more intensive, personalized study plan. The school can also arrange lessons through Skype.
- English levels: all levels
- Course length: flexible
- Number of hours per week: 15, 20 or 30 hours
- Timetable: flexible
- Start dates: flexible
Voice Training and Accent Modification Course
This course can be booked as a stand-alone course or as an add-on to any of the other courses.
- Course length: flexible
- Number of hours per week: minimum booking 5 hours
- Timetable: flexible
- Start dates: flexible
ENGLISH FOR PROFESSIONALS COURSES
- Age: minimum 20, average 25
- Lesson length: 60 minutes
- Class size: maximum 10
Business English Course
This course includes the language of negotiations, meetings, presentations, emails, report writing and many situations that a young professional will face in an international business environment. The course also includes an external speaker every two weeks.
- English levels: B1 – C2
- Course length: 1 – 8 weeks
- Number of hours per week: 24 hours
- Timetable: 09:15 – 15:45 Monday to Friday
- Start dates: Any Monday
Cambridge English: Business Vantage Course (BEC-V)
The BEC Vantage examination is a business English exam aimed at the same level as Cambridge FCE (upper intermediate). This intensive crash-course provides in-depth preparation in all areas covered in the exam.
- English levels: B1 – B2
- Course length: 2 weeks
- Number of hours per week: 24 hours
- Timetable: 09:15 – 15:45 Monday to Friday
- Start dates: see dates and fees
HOST FAMILY
One of the best ways to learn more about the people of Britain is to choose homestay accommodation. All homestays are carefully selected and visited regularly to ensure consistently high standards. Homestays are in fact the accommodation of choice for the majority of students. The school and Marshall Language Services recommend this form of accommodation the most for language learning. Family life is informal and the people are welcoming, friendly and talkative, so students will have plenty of opportunities to practice their English with native speakers. By booking homestay accommodation, students will also not have to worry about shopping for food and preparing meals every day. Mealtimes are often the occasions in which families converse most with the students.
Additional homestay provisions and information
- The school offers two types of homestay: Silver and Gold.
- Silver homestays feature:
- Shared bathroom
- Meal Plans: Breakfast only, Breakfast and 3 evenings meals per week or Breakfast and Dinner everyday
- Gold homestays feature:
- Private bathroom
- Meal Plans: Breakfast only or Breakfast and 3 evenings meals per week
- Most homestays offer wireless internet.
- Homestay families provide all bed linens and towels.
- All homestays are local – usually less than 30 minutes and no more than 40 minutes away on foot or by public transport from the school.
- Weekly accommodation charge includes one clothes wash per week.
- Accommodation is from Saturday to Saturday. It is possible to book extra nights at an additional cost.
STUDENT RESIDENCES
Prince Consort Village
Prince Consort Village is a brand new residence conveniently located within walking distance of the school. Located in Shepherd’s Bush, it is close to transport links, cafés, restaurants, shops and pubs in the local area. The residence offers fully-furnished standard studios with en-suite bathrooms.
Prince Consort Village also offers:
- Self-contained studios with private bathroom and kitchenette
- Bed linen is provided
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
- Gym
- Communal kitchen and lounge
- Study rooms
- Outdoor courtyards
- 24 hour security
Vincent House
Vincent House is an Art Deco building situated in an attractive London square. The residence is located 35 minutes by underground from the school.
Vincent House also offers:
- A single room with a single bed, wardrobe, armchair, bookcase and a small desk/dressing table
- A teakettle in each room
- Bed linen and towels are provided and changed weekly
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
- Garden
- Communal lounge
- 24-hour security
SERVICED APARTMENTS
St James House
This apartment is located only 25 minutes by bus from the school building. St James House has 17 well- designed studios, each with their own bathroom and kitchenette. The nearest tube station is Holland Park.
St James House also offers:
- Studio with en-suite bathroom and kitchenette
- Bed linens and towels changed weekly
- Weekly cleaning
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
- 24 hour security
Inverness Terrace
This apartment is located close to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. Inverness Terrace is located only 30 minutes by underground from the school building.
Inverness Terrace also offers:
- Studio with ensuite bathroom and kitchenette
- Bed linens and towels changed weekly
- Weekly cleaning
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
- 24 hour security
Grand Plaza Apartments
Situated near Hyde Park, the Grand Plaza is within easy reach of the school. The Grand Plaza has 205 high quality, fully furnished studio, one-, two- and three- bedroom apartments. All apartments have modern, open plan kitchens, en-suite bathrooms and use of Kensington Garden Square.
Grand Plaza Apartments also offer:
- Bed linens
- Rooms cleaned weekly
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
- Breakfast for an additional charge
HOTELS
The school’s accommodation team has information on a range of local hotels that they believe offer quality, value for money and easy access to school. The school will be happy to assist students with hotel bookings.
Insurance
Insurance covering medical and travel assistance, personal liability and trip cancellation is not included in the price of the program. Marshall Language Services has a policy available through Guard.Me that covers these elements, as well as an additional policy through CareMed that covers cancellation under a wider range of circumstances, including the need to repeat school exams. A summary of these policies may be downloaded below.
Dates and Fees
Calculate your own approximate quote
The following tool will help you to get a good idea of the cost of a language course and accommodation, if requested, at this school. It may not include all the courses and accommodation options available or take into account promotional offers or costs associated with student visas, insurance, study materials or exam fees. For these reasons, the availability of any course, accommodation option (especially in the high season) and the final price of a package will always have to be verified with Marshall Language Services prior to enrolment.
Contact us for information about dates & prices
Other Programs by this School
London School of English also offers General and Professional English courses for mature adults in its other schools located in the Holland Park area of London, and Canterbury, England. Please contact us for more information.
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