Centre of English Studies (CES)

CES is an award winning school with a choice of seven different locations in Ireland and the UK – Dublin, Worthing, Wimbledon, Leeds and Oxford, Harrogate and Edinburgh. We have an international reputation for training and teaching. We have excellent and carefully selected homestay accommodation and there is also the option of residential accommodation in most of our locations. We also have a comprehensive year round cultural and social programme.

In 2015 CES were lucky enough to buy Randolph School of English off Valerie Reynolds.  Valerie is one of the best known CELTA trainers in the industry not just in Scotland but in the whole of the UK.  Valerie had started up Randolph School herself in 1999.  Over the those years Randolph School of English trained thousands of teachers.  One of the many successes of the school lay in the care and responsibility to the needs of the students from the beginning to the end of their stay at the school. Both on the CELTA courses and on the English Language Programme courses for juniors and adults.  All of this quality will continue with Centre of English Studies - CES. Valerie has continued to work with us in Centre of English Studies in Edinburgh since the she sold Randolph School of English.

CES will continue to run Cambridge CELTA courses.  In 2016 we are running 11 courses.  For more information on our CELTA course please read below or send an e mail to [email protected].

What is CELTA? 

It gives you a qualification for entry into the field of EFL teaching to adults internationally. The acronym stands for Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. It is validated by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate who set the guidelines and criteria for centres running these courses.

How long does the course take?

The full time course is a minimum of 120 contact hours and runs over four weeks. You attend the school from 09.00 to 17.00 and then spend most evenings preparing lessons for the following day. Cambridge recommends that a minimum of 60 additional learning hours for reading, research, assignment writing and lesson preparation is required on a course. This would average out to about 15 hours a week on top of contact hours.

Our part time course runs over 12 weeks and covers a minimum of 120 contact hours. The contact times are Saturday mornings from 10.00 to 13.15 and Monday and Wednesday evenings 18.00 to 21.00.

Can I enrol?

Yes, if you are at least 18 years old at the start of the course. It is generally recommended that you are aged 20 and over though. You should also have a standard of education that would allow entry to Higher Education in your country. You should have an awareness of language and a competence in English, both written and spoken, that enables you to follow the course and complete the assignments set throughout the course. Non-native speaker applicants need proof of a C1/C2 level of English.

Do I need to be able to speak a foreign language?
No, but it can help you if you have an awareness of another language.

Do I need to have previous teaching experience?
No. The CELTA course is designed as a pre-service course for people with no previous teaching experience. It is also a popular course with those who have a PGCE and experience in the state sector but who are looking for a change of direction.

What are the course contents?
Input sessions are devoted to methodology, language awareness, phonology and lesson preparation. It is a Cambridge requirement that you observe 6 hours of classes with qualified teachers (3 are of live teaching and 3 can be of videos) and have a minimum of 6 hours observed teaching practice. On our full time courses here, teaching practice normally takes place in the afternoons and by the end of the course you will have taught two or three levels of classes.

Where do the teaching practice students come from?
The community. Many of them are working in Edinburgh, i.e. in bars, restaurants or are au pairs, and they pay a registration fee to attend these classes taught by you and observed by tutors.

Is there an examination at the end?
No. You are assessed on 2 components: your teaching practice and written assignments. Cambridge has a set of criteria for each component that you must meet to get the certificate. Towards the end of the course an external assessor comes in to moderate the course and to ensure that assessment is carried out consistently. You will have at least two tutorials during which you will be given an indication of your progress to date. Useful information about the course can be found at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CELTA

Is it easy to find a job?
It is more difficult to find a full-time job in Britain, except in the summer months when there are many summer schools operating in Edinburgh and the rest of Britain - particularly in the London area. We therefore recommend that you go abroad after the course. During the course information will be available to assist you in finding employment.

How much is the course?
2017 Courses: £1,050 (inclusive of the Cambridge fee) plus £50 registration fee.
2018 Courses: £1,085 (inclusive of the Cambridge fee) plus £50 registration fee.

Can I get financial assistance for the course?
Some job centres may be able to give you a grant but you will have to contact them yourself. The British Council also gives grants to recent graduates to do a Celta course so visit their site and find out more.

How do I apply?
You can download an application form and accompanying written tasks from this page. Complete both and return them to the school address with copies of any relevant qualifications you have to support your application. If your application meets requirements we will invite you to attend an interview. These interviews are usually conducted in groups (or a telephone can be arranged if a candidate lives far away) and short tasks are set to assess a candidate's suitability. In most cases the decision to accept or reject a candidate is made at the end of the interview. You can send these to [email protected] or [email protected]

Introduction Letter

Application Form

Written Task

Why choose this centre?

We have Scotland's most experienced CELTA tutors. All of us are assessors and Valerie Reynolds was a Joint Chief Assessor for the scheme for 15 years.  We are also competitively priced for the north!

Course Dates:

Full time:
11/09/17 – 06/10/17
16/10/17 – 10/11/17
20/11/17 – 15/12/17
08/01/18 – 02/02/18
26/02/18 – 23/03/18
30/04/18 – 25/05/18
28/05/18 – 22/06/18
09/07/18 – 03/08/18
08/10/18 – 02/11/18
19/11/18 – 14/12/18

Part time:
16/09/17 – 09/12/17
20/01/18 – 21/04/18
15/09/18 – 08/12/18