ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
Applications are currently closed for ESOL courses
All ESOL courses have now started for this academic year.
Courses starting in September 2026 will open for applications from May.
At WAES we offer ESOL courses for adults to meet your individual needs and at levels that work for you. We offer part-time courses in the day, evening and at the weekends for permanent or temporary residents in the UK. We have a proven track record and are a successful provider of ESOL courses and are proud of how our learners have progressed into work and further study.
Our teaching staff are fully-qualified with years of experience to help you develop your English reading, writing, speaking and listening skills which lead to recognised qualifications. Courses are free for many learners living in Greater London who are unemployed, on means-tested benefits, or earning below the London Living Wage which is £28,860 per year as of 22 October 2025. ID and proof of low income and benefits are required for assessment.
You can apply online for our ESOL courses. After submitting your application, you will be contacted by email to invite you to an assessment. Please note, due to very high demand, our courses fill up quickly, and spaces are limited, so please get your applications in as quickly as possible.
In the event of a course being oversubscribed, we will operate a waiting list. If places become available, these will be allocated and prioritised to applicants who are Westminster residents in the first instance.
During term time, our assessments take place at our Lisson Grove centre on Tuesdays from 10am and at our Pimlico centre on Fridays from 10am. During WAES holidays, specific days will be arranged for assessments. Please contact us for more information. For general course enquiries or for further information please call us on 020 7297 7297 or use our contact form.
If you are not looking to work towards a qualification at this time, you might instead be interested in applying for our Gain Confidence in English courses.
For the following courses, you may be eligible for full or partial government funding or a loan, depending on factors like your age, location, residency status, employment situation, or income.
Our ESOL courses are based on the syllabus of the ESOL Skills for Life curriculum for each level and focus on developing reading, writing and speaking and listening skills over an academic year.
Gain Confidence in English is a welcoming Community ESOL course for adults who want to improve their English for everyday life and work. Whether you are new to English or already know a little, the course helps you build confidence step by step. Classes run from Pre-Entry to Entry 3 and provide a supportive space to practise speaking, listening, reading and writing with others in your local community.Lessons focus on real-life situations—such as talking to your child’s school, visiting the doctor, travelling around London or communicating at work—so you can use English in a practical and meaningful way.
- Highly qualified and professionally experienced tutors
- Accessible Central London centres with bespoke facilities and great transport connections
- A wide range of in-person, online, distance learning and community-based courses
- Unique work experience opportunities through partnerships
- Guest speakers offer introductions to career pathways in a variety of sectors
- Excellent progression to employment, apprenticeships or further learning including university
