The imminent closure of two English UK member centres – Bishopstrow College in Warminster and Padworth Summer School in Reading – was confirmed on Wednesday, 25 June 2025. By Monday, 30 June, both schools had formally entered administration. A small number of staff will remain on site temporarily to assist with the ongoing situation.

Impact on Year-Round and Summer School Programmes

The closures have affected junior students attending both the year-round and summer school programmes. Many summer students were due to travel imminently for their UK study experience, making this an extremely distressing time for students, parents, agents, and staff alike.

English UK and Member Centres Step In

English UK extends its sincere gratitude to the staff at Bishopstrow and Padworth who have remained on site beyond the announcement to ensure the safety and welfare of students, including the provision of ongoing accommodation.

The organisation would also like to thank fellow English UK member centres for their swift and generous responses, offering course places at cost price on very short notice. Your solidarity and support are deeply appreciated.

To assist those impacted, English UK is deploying its Student Emergency Support (SES) scheme in two key ways. First, SES funds are being allocated to cover emergency accommodation and transport for currently enrolled students affected by the closures. Second, we are coordinating alternative residential course offers, which will be presented to agents and parents. This will enable students who are yet to travel and still wish to pursue their studies in the UK this summer to select from a range of suitable courses and locations.

Thankfully, all students who arrived over the past weekend have already been successfully placed. New course offers will be compiled and sent to agents and parents over the coming week.

Seeking Support or Advice?

Students and their representatives wishing to seek compensation for fees paid to Bishopstrow College or Padworth Summer School are advised to contact the appointed administrator. English UK will share administrator contact details as soon as they become available.

If you are affected by these closures and require support, please contact Naadiya or Alice at: [email protected] 

About the Student Emergency Support Scheme

The English UK Student Emergency Support scheme is designed to support students in the event of an unexpected closure of a British Council-accredited centre.

Its primary goal is to minimise disruption to current students, enabling them to continue their studies at another accredited centre without incurring additional tuition costs. The scheme may also provide limited assistance to students who have not yet arrived but were due to begin a course in the near future, subject to availability and funding.