The Bournemouth branch of English language school chain British Study Centres is set to close, with the owner, Simon Cleaver, citing market conditions as playing a role in the decision to close the centre.
Speaking exclusively with The PIE News, Cleaver explained that he was presented with an urgent opportunity by the landlords to give up the remaining lease in favour of converting the entire site to flats.
“It’s always been our smallest school, and we had been thinking of moving premises anyway,” explained Cleaver.
“Given current market conditions, it seemed simpler to simply close the school.”
He added, “I would rather focus on schools where we know we can make a profit”. BSC continues to operate as normal in London, Oxford and Brighton.
Cleaver agreed that trading conditions for English language schools in the UK are tough; a point underlined by CEO of Student Marketing Samuel Vetrak in a presentation at the recent ICEF Berlin workshop. Nine of the top 20 source markets for ELT have seen a decline in business according to Vetrak.
“No one really knows if the downturn is something structural or a blip”
“No one really knows if the downturn is something structural or a blip, but it is best to address the situation as if it is something structural and then we can be pleasantly surprised if it ends up a blip,” he said.
The school will close on November 13 and all students who do not wish to transfer to another BSC school will transfer to another Bournemouth school operated by Kings Education. Students will be able to remain in their current residential accommodation.
Cleaver said that around 50 students in all will be affected by the move.
