English UK has published an updated version of its 2026 position paper, urging the UK government to accelerate reforms affecting the English language teaching (ELT) sector and international education strategy, as it warns that recent momentum on policy change must not “stall”.
The organisation says that since its original position paper launched in May last year, it has seen “partial achievement” of around half of its key asks within months.
However, it argues that further progress is now needed at pace if the UK is to remain competitive in global education markets and meet its wider economic ambitions.
Speaking at a parliamentary reception hosted by English UK on May 20, UK minister for skills Jacqui Smith said: “Working together, I think we can ensure that the UK leads the world in English language training and reaps the economic, social and cultural rewards this delivers to communities across the length and breadth of our nation.”
English UK plays a pivotal role in promoting the sector, supporting providers and strengthening our international presence – and that’s why I’m keen to reinforce the government’s strong support and to discuss shared priorities
Jacqui Smith, UK minister for skills
“English UK plays a pivotal role in promoting the sector, supporting providers and strengthening our international presence – and that’s why I’m keen to reinforce the government’s strong support and to discuss shared priorities, including boosting exports and maintaining competitive, accessible routes for learners,” she added.
At the centre of the association’s renewed call for action is its request for the Youth Experience Scheme agreed with the European Union to be implemented with the highest possible participant cap. It also calls for accelerated progress on similar Youth Mobility Schemes with non-EU countries.
Alongside this, English UK is calling for new ID card-based travel agreements for school groups to be introduced with more countries. Spain and Italy are specifically highlighted as priority partners.
The updated position paper also seeks clarity on how visas would operate for volunteering placements connected to Erasmus+ courses. English UK says vocational and training programs with a volunteering element were a popular part of its Erasmus+ offer before the UK left the scheme, with learners keen to practise English in workplace settings.
It said that, outside the EU, participants will now require a government exchange visa to undertake volunteering as part of Erasmus+ courses. The organisation is urging the government to set out as soon as possible who will issue the visa and how applications will work, so providers can plan their course offer.
Elsewhere, English UK is calling for rent-a-room relief to be increased in line with inflation, arguing that the measure would encourage more people to “open their doors” to ELT students.
Generally, the organisation is looking for stronger government backing for the UK ELT sector as part of its broader international education strategy, which has set an ambition of growing education exports to £40 billion per year by 2030. English UK argues that the ELT sector plays a central role in achieving this target but requires sustained policy support to do so.
Citing research that shows that English language students spend twice as much money in the UK than the average visitor, Smith said “it’s no surprise” that English language training is a “very important strand” of the government’s international education strategy.
English UK was recently named as a core member of the UK government’s new Education Sector Action Group (ESAG), the minister-led body tasked with driving the refreshed international education strategy.
It means a representative from the association will attend all ESAG meetings and lead the development of sector action plans, in collaboration with advisers.
