College loophole for migrants shrinks

English UK, the organisation of accredited state and private language centres, said the number of non-accredited establishments which could be recruiting in breach of immigration rules had fallen by almost 95 per cent in the past four years.

A recent survey carried out by one of its researchers this spring identified only 33 schools – six per cent – as still giving cause for concern.

Chief executive Tony Millns said 45 per cent of previously non-accredited colleges were no longer operating as English language schools, while 27 per cent were recruiting students from European Union countries only and so were not a concern in immigration terms. He said 22 per cent had achieved some form of accreditation.

In a letter to Immigration Minister Damian Green, he said: “We believe that this (research) shows that the changes introduced up to the start of last year were having, and continue to have, an extremely beneficial effect: 45 per cent of the previously non-accredited are no longer operating as English language schools; 27 per cent are recruiting EU students only and are therefore also not a concern in immigration terms; and 22 per cent have achieved some form of accreditation that is at least better than nothing.”

English UK said only six per cent of the original 560 language schools monitored by it since 2002 were still giving cause for concern compared with four years ago, when most were still active.

Mr Millns said it had continually raised the issue of “bogus colleges” with the Border Agency and the last government “for years before anyone took any notice”.