Why Purley English Language College?
The College
The College is possibly one of London's best-kept secrets. For the past eighty years, small groups of students and individuals have been returning to us from all over the world. We do not run big advertising campaigns but instead trade on our reputation. We have a dedicated set of tutors all qualified to teach their particular language and keep classes small (maximum 10, average 6). The College is small-sized and this is the way we and our students prefer to keep it. Our maximum capacity is 50 and we have between 20 and 35 students on average.
All our English teachers speak English to native level and are qualified teachers of English as a Foreign Language. Our Director of Studies holds the Diploma in English Language Teaching and the Principal has a masters degree in English from the University of Oxford. Purley English Language College is accredited by the British Council and is a member of English UK.
Profiles of our teachers and staff
We pride ourselves on the fact that so many of our students come back to the college or recommend us to friends or family.
Purley and the surrounding area
Purley is an ideal place to learn English. You are far more likely to meet and spend your time with English-speaking people here than in central London because, quite simply, there are lots of English people in Purley! Central London tends to have a lot of tourists and students from abroad so your opportunities for practising your English with native speakers may be limited.
Our experience shows that students progress much more quickly if they use their English outside the classroom. There are lots of opportunities to find part time jobs or even do voluntary work if you wish. Staying with a native English-speaking Homestay provider will of course help you progress very rapidly. Our Homestay providers are usually families with children of their own, in other cases their children have grown up and left home.
Purley is a quiet, peaceful, safe residential town noted for its large residential houses, good schools, its hills and its many trees and open areas. It is just 23 minutes on the train to central London yet far from the crowds and noise and just a stone's throw from beautiful Surrey countryside. As it happens, the college is right opposite Tesco, a large supermarket selling food, clothing, stationery, electronic goods and a wide range of other items. There is also a café/restaurant selling reasonably-priced food.
The Surrey countryside is accessible by bus, train, car or bicycle. There are lots of places of interest and plenty of pleasant walks, nature reserves, woods and hills. The city of Croydon meanwhile is a ten-minute bus journey away and is truly a shoppers' paradise. It has two huge shopping centres, Whitgift and Centrale, as well as an excellent library, two cinemas, two theatres and plenty of restaurants, pubs, cafés and bars.
A little about the history of the College
The College was founded Purley School of Commerce and Languages by Miss E. Attwater in the year 1928. It began its life in rooms above the National Provincial Bank opposite Purley's famous water fountain (now located near the library) and it combined language tuition with secretarial training until recent times.
In the late 1970s, the college was split between two sites, one in Purley High Street and one a large, now-demolished, prominent white building on Brighton Road very near Purley Cross in the centre of Purley. The Principal at this time, Miss Kent, had a reputation for being very strict!
Following Miss Kent's death, the college moved to its current location, a few doors further south at 34 Brighton Road. The current building is a very attractive, spacious, mock-Tudor Edwardian building with five classrooms, a student study room, coffee room and front and rear gardens. There are separate toilets for men and women.
The owners of the College
The College is a family business, owned by Jan and Nova Fossgard. Jan is an Oxford University English graduate who also studied French, German and Spanish at Oxford and is fluent in Norwegian as well. His earliest memory is being corrected on his pronunciation of the word 'three' (that was his age at the time) by the boy next door in Sheffield and he has been fascinated by language and literature ever since. He has also learned Latin, some Italian, Russian, Portuguese and a little Mandarin and reads Swedish, Danish and Dutch. Jan is the principal of the College and is noted for his gentle manner and academic approach. He has travelled widely in Latin America and Asia.
Nova is the marketing director and is a graduate of commerce from the Philippines. Nova is noted for her bubbly personality, her cooking skills and a laugh that can be heard in every corner of the College. She has also travelled widely.
For more information on our courses
General English Courses
English Day and Boarding Schools / Private Lessons
Foreign Language Courses and Tuition
Business Outreach Programme
GCSE and A Level Revision Courses
To view our College brochure
 Brochure Download (PDF file - 8.75Mb)
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