Ideal for generally more mature students looking specifically for 30+ English courses, their general English courses have an average age of 26.
Not ideal for younger students in their late teens.
The good
- New modern building, fitted with air-conditioning, heating and with great views of London city.
- 30+ Lounge, with classrooms dedicated to the 30+ courses.
- Excellent location, a 20-minute walk from the heart of Shoreditch.
The bad
- There are not many facilities on-site i.e. a library or cafeteria.
Date of my inspection visit at EC English London: April 11, 2024
My overall take
EC English London (EC) was my type of school. There was a classy feel about the school and the definition of “getting your money’s worth”. The building is aesthetically pleasing to look at and study in, a place where you won’t be in a rush to leave. The classrooms have ample space, lots of natural light, and the latest technology.
The school does not have a cafeteria, student kitchen, or vending machines, meaning all meals will have to be bought on the high streets in the surrounding area, which can be costly in the long term. On the other hand, their social programme is extensive, offering many different options for travelling around and outside of London. A pub is attached to the building, which the students visit every Friday afternoon. Naturally, the students love to use this opportunity to bond with each other, and I would agree there is nothing like bonding over beers!
If I were a student in my mid-late 20s, this would be the perfect school for me as the average minimum age of students that attend this school is 25. The main difference between EC and a school like International House is that the average student age, 25, is closer to the 30+ course programme age. In contrast, a school like International House has a large under-25 demographic, which may be a nuisance for the more mature learners.
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EC English London at a glance
| Rating of former students | 4.7 (62 reviews) |
| Class size | Lingo Traveller rating: Average Max. 15 students in General English course |
| Diversity of nationalities | Lingo Traveller rating: Average diversity No nationality more than 20%. Top nationality: Brazilian and Turkish |
| Learning intensity | 5 hours of homework per week (approximately 1 hour per day) |
| Number of students | 350 adults + juniors in July combined 210 adults + juniors in January combined |
| Minimum student age | 16 years |
| Accreditations | British Council |
| Course range | General English, Business for specific professions, English for Work, CPE, CAE, FCE, IELTS Exam Preparation |
| Accommodation types | Homestay, Residence and Studios |
| Price | |
| Standard Group course 20 lessons/week: 45min/lesson | 1 week: £375 3 weeks: £1125 |
| Additional fees | Inscription fee: £55 Course material fee: none |
| Price level – Standard Group course (based on 3 weeks incl. all fees) | £26.20 per 60 minute tuition |
My tour of the school & video review
Student voices
Unfiltered comments from random students I met at the school and asked about their experience.
“I can’t complain about anything, but if I had to choose something, I would like to have cookies in the reception and a free coffee machine“
Eloisa
25 years from Brazil
“I really like the contact that we have with people from other countries, its really different and there are real conversations we have day by day“
Luena
28 years from Brazil
“One of the most important things over here [EC English London] is the teachers, I really love the teachers“
Giancarlo
32 years from Brazil
Questions to school director
Excerpts below from my conversation with Andy Jefferey, director of Studies EC English London, and has been working at EC for 12 years.
Me: “What sets your school apart from others in the city?“
Andy Jefferey: “One thing we really focus on is student progress, making sure that students are taking ownership of their own learning. We want students to not just learn English whilst they are in the school but to develop and progress beyond the end of their course.“
Me: “Is there a particular type of student for whom your school is especially suitable?
Andy Jefferey: “The best student in London are the ones who are open to learn about different cultures and nationalities; who really want to learn about the differences between different cultures“
School inspection report
Classrooms
All the classrooms a very well lit, both with natural light from the large windows and great views of London.
Each room looks newly renovated, clean and well-furnished. Every classroom also has air-conditioning and heating (which is surprisingly a luxury in London – not every school has these amenities). The technology is also top-end, with each classroom having interactive smart TVs and an online learning platform/app used in lessons called “Spark”.
Facilities
All the furniture is vibrantly coloured and new. There are only two communal areas: one is in the 30+ lounge, and the other is on the first floor near the reception. Both areas are relatively small, especially the 30+ lounge, which is rather small. That lounge specifically can comfortably fit only 40 students, as there are only about 15 seats (not including seats in the classrooms). There are no other noteworthy facilities.
Surrounding area
The school is located on Islington High Street, and initially, finding it can be a little confusing. But there are many restaurants and stores near the school.
It has a fantastic location in Angel and Islington, only a 20-minute walk from Shoreditch. There are bus stops and train stations within 5 minutes of the school.
Social activities
There are activities for all personality types and interests: historical countryside tours, boozy night outs and theatre shows. So if you want to party hard or have a lovely picnic away from the city, EC’s social programme has got you covered.
Residence
IQ residence is a STUNNING student accommodation, 20 minutes walk from EC English London.
This is a very upscale accommodation with several large common areas, private study/meeting rooms, a dance studio, an art studio, private dining rooms, a cinema room, a gym, a courtyard and a sky lounge. There are further plans to develop more communal areas within the residence.
The studios are averagely spaced by London’s student accommodation standards; however, the bathrooms are very compact. Bedding is not provided at this accommodation which is the only downfall.
The luxurious amenities reflect the price, with the lowest prices for standard studios starting from approximately £434 per week.
Trusted student ratings of EC English London on the web
| Total | 4.7 (62 reviews) |
|---|---|
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.7 (24 reviews) |
| ESL | 4.7 (38 reviews) |
Ratings as of June 18, 2024
Why no Google or Facebook ratings? Schools may have requested Facebook, Google or Trustpilot reviews only from those students that previously gave positive after-course evaluations. I only trust ratings from independent booking platforms/agencies, that allow exclusively clients who booked via their platform to rate the schools. I have checked each of these sites above and they have no disproportional number of positive vs negative reviews.
