19 Jan 2010

English language schools fear new visa rules

Plans to crack down on illegal entry will damage colleges for overseas students, principals say

Though the English Riviera may no longer be a huge draw for British holidaymakers, it is still, nonetheless, a magnet for many foreign visitors. Every year, English language schools concentrated by the seaside in places such as Bournemouth, Poole, Eastbourne and Brighton attract hundreds of thousands of overseas students braving the unpredictable weather.

It has been estimated that 600,000 people come to the UK to learn English, bringing £1.5bn to the economy. Just over half of them go on to more study of some kind, either in further or higher education or to take professional qualifications.

Find out more about the impact of these new rules