Spot check report
Organisation name
Communicate, Manchester
Inspection date
9 November 2016
BACKGROUND
Organisation profile
Inspection history
Dates/details
First inspection
June 2014
Last full inspection
June 2014
Subsequent spot check (if applicable)
November 2015
Subsequent supplementary check (if applicable)
N/a
Subsequent interim visit (if applicable)
Other related non-accredited activities (in brief) at this
centre
Other related accredited schools/centres/affiliates
N/a
Other related non-accredited schools/centres/affiliates
None
None
None
Current accreditation status and reason for spot check
Current accredited status
Accredited
Reason for spot check
Signalled: inspect new or additional premises
Premises profile
Address of main site
Details of any additional sites in
use at the time of the inspection
Details of any additional sites not
in use at the time of the inspection
Sites inspected
Murray House, 85 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2DA
N/a
N/a
Murray House
Student and staff profile
At inspection
In peak week July
Total ELT/ESOL student numbers (FT + PT)
Minimum age (including closed group or vacation)
72 (FT) 36 (PT)
96 (FT) 48 (PT)
16
7
Typical age range
20–30
16–25
Typical length of stay
6 weeks
Total number of teachers on eligible ELT courses
12 weeks
Spanish, Polish,
Omani, Italian
8
Total number of administrative/ancillary staff
4
Predominant nationalities
Spanish, Polish, Saudi, Italian
10
4
INTRODUCTION
Background
Communicate was started in 2010 and first accredited in 2014, with a routine spot check in 2015. The school moved
premises in August 2016, and the purpose of this spot check was to inspect the new premises.
Report expires 31 March 2019
Preparation
The previous two reports were received, from the 2014 full inspection and the subsequent spot check in 2015, as
well as copies of relevant correspondence and the current brochure.
Programme and persons present
The inspection was fairly brief as the school had been recently spot checked and almost all points to be addressed
had been fully dealt with. The inspector arrived at 1300 and departed at 1415. The assistant director of studies
(ADoS) was away, but both directors, including the director/director of studies (DoS), were present and provided the
appropriate information and paperwork. A tour of the new premises was carried out and related documentation
viewed.
FINDINGS
There have been no major changes in staffing since the last spot check inspection: the management team remains
the same, one member of the administrative team has changed, and there have been some changes in the teaching
team.
Courses for teachers have been introduced, combining English language improvement with aspects of teaching
methodology, and new family courses are now offered, in place of a previous arrangement where students’ children
were taught on a one-to-one basis.
The most important change is the move to new premises, completed in August 2016. The school now comprises the
first and second floor of a modern, centrally located three-storey building, and is currently the only occupant of the
building. The third floor is currently empty.
The entrance to the building is on the ground floor, with access from the street via an entry phone controlled at
reception. There is CCTV which can be viewed in the staffroom and both directors’ offices, as well as remotely by
the directors. The entrance consists of a small, very light area with a lift and staircase. The school reception is on
the first floor, accessed by a further door with a key code - this is open during reception hours. The reception desk is
staffed at all times when the school is open, and there is an adjacent seating and waiting area. Directly behind the
reception are offices for the ADoS and director/DoS, and the teachers’ room is opposite the ADoS office, which is
also an interview room.
The corridor leads past two classrooms to a large breakout area which provides a comfortable seating area and a
work space with USB ports and electrical sockets, as well as an area with a sink and vending machines. The main
stairs are accessed from the corridor, and lead down to a locked and alarmed fire exit, and up to the second floor.
Both floors are also served by the lift. There are female and male toilets on the first and second floor landings
respectively, as well as a disabled toilet on the first floor. On the second floor are four further classrooms, a staff
kitchen and area for relaxation and eating, four study booths with computers, an additional relaxation area for
students and a small one-to-one classroom, which is also used as a prayer room. A further room is currently used
as an office by one of the directors, but is to be a small classroom. There are plans to provide additional areas with
tablets on ground floor.
Classrooms are all equipped with computers and projectors, and are all individually planned, with different colour
walls and a range of furniture in different colours and styles, creating a very bright and welcoming atmosphere.
A range of documents relating to the new building was seen, including the fire safety log, fire risk assessment, the
fire safety training record, and a record of tests carried out to the fire alarm. A fire drill has already taken place and
been recorded. The premises risk assessment uses a generic health and safety template, and currently includes
detailed locking up instructions for the building. More details specific to these new premises will be added as they
arise.
The website has been fully updated to reflect the move to the new premises, and a new brochure is in preparation.
Premises and facilities
Criteria
R1 Adequate space
R2 Condition of premises
R3 Classrooms and learning areas
R4 Student relaxation areas and food
Not met
Met
Strength
See
comments
N/a
R5 Signage and display
R6 Staffroom(s)
Comments
R1 There is ample space for staff, students and visitors, and the new areas have been carefully planned to make
maximum use of space available.
R2 The premises have been planned and organised from scratch throughout, and are finished to a very high
standard with use of colour and light.
R3 Classrooms vary in size, shape, furniture and colour, but all are spacious for the numbers accommodated.
Furniture is flexible and rooms are light, airy and bright.
R4 There is excellent provision for students, with attractive relaxation areas on both floors and facilities for drinks
and snacks. There is also a wide range of food and drink outlets in the immediate vicinity.
R5 Signage is clear throughout and relevant information is attractively displayed all around the premises and in
classrooms.
R6 Staff benefit from separate work and relaxation areas.
POINTS TO BE ADDRESSED
Points to be addressed from the previous inspection report with comments (in bold) to indicate how far these have
been addressed. Only points reviewed during this spot check are included here. Any points outstanding will be
checked at the next full inspection.
Management
M24 The programmes are still mainly described in terms of the number of lessons rather than hours.
Addressed. The number of taught hours is now specified within pricing information on the website.
Welfare and student services
W8 Information about students’ rights to treatment under the NHS is not made available before arrival to students
coming from overseas.
Addressed. This information is now sent prior to arrival.
Points to be addressed arising from this visit
None.
CONCLUSIONS
The school continues to meet Scheme requirements in new premises which provide an excellent environment for
work, study and relaxation to staff and students alike.
RECOMMENDATION
The next inspection falls due in 2018; there are no grounds for bringing this forward.
SUMMARY STATEMENT
Changes to summary statement
No changes need to be made to the publishable statement (now called summary statement).
Summary statement
The British Council inspected and accredited Communicate School of English in June 2014. The Accreditation
Scheme assesses the standards of management, resources and premises, teaching, welfare and care of under 18s
and accredits organisations which meet the overall standard in each area inspected (see
www.britishcouncil.org/education/accreditation for details).
This private language school offers courses in general and professional English for adults (16+) and for closed
groups of adults (16+) and under 18s.
Strengths were noted in the area of premises and facilities.
The inspection report stated that the organisation met the standards of the Scheme.