Skip to content
30 July 2026

Reform poses looming threat to ESOL we can’t ignore

The idea that migrants can simply 'learn English on an app' misunderstands language learning and ESOL's purpose
Felix Norman Guest Contributor

Curriculum manager – ESOL, WM College

4 min read
|

Listen to this story

Members can listen to an AI-generated audio version of this article.

1.0x

Audio narration uses an AI-generated voice.

0:00 0:00

In May 2025, newly elected Reform Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire Andrea Jenkyns used her victory speech to suggest that migrants should be housed in tents rather than hotels, by saying that “tents are good enough for France, they should be good enough for here in Britain”.

Around a year later, Keir Starmer found time in his short resignation speech to include the closure of “asylum hotels” as one of his key achievements.

Here in Starmer’s constituency of Somers Town and St Pancras, where WM College is located, we see more and more rough sleepers in tents every day, and cases of homelessness among our ESOL learners increase exponentially. So, it seems the Reform Mayor may have got her wish.

Become a member for unlimited access to FE Week

subscribe

Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism on FE and skills, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits.

Share

Explore more on these topics

No Comments

Featured jobs from FE Week jobs / Schools Week jobs

Browse more news