English Language Courses
We offer English language courses for adults at our Castle Boulevard campus in Nottingham.
These courses help you improve your English for everyday life, work, and future study.
About Our English Language Courses
Learn English for life, work, and study in the UK.
We offer English language courses for adults at our Castle Boulevard campus in Nottingham.
These courses help you improve your English for everyday life, work , and future study.
We offer two types of courses:
- Ascentis ESOL (Entry 1 to Level 2) – for people living in the UK who want to improve their English.
- NCFE Functional Skills English (Level 1 and Level 2) – for people who need an English qualification for work or further study.
Ascentis ESOL Courses (Entry 1 to Level 2)
What This Course Is
The Ascentis ESOL Certificate helps you improve your Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing.
The course follows the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum used across the UK.
You study three units:
- Speaking & Listening Communication
- Reading
- Writing
Your teachers assess your work, and Ascentis checks the results.
Who the Course Is For
This course is for adults aged 18+ who live in the UK and want to improve their English.
It is suitable for:
- People from settled communities
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Anyone who speaks another language at home
What You Will Learn
You will learn English to help you:
- Use English at work
- Speak confidently in daily life
- Understand services in the UK
- Travel, study and socialise more easily
ESOL Levels:
| ESOL Level | CEFR Level | Language Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Entry 1 | A1 | Beginner |
| Entry 2 | A2 | Elementary |
| Entry 3 | B1 | Pre-Intermediate |
| Level 1 | B2 | Intermediate / Upper Intermediate |
| Level 2 | C1 | Advanced |
You study 2 days per week, 4 hours per day.
ESOL Weekly Timetable:
| Time | Wednesday | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30 – 11:00 | ESOL | ESOL | |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Break | ||
| 11:30 – 13:00 | ESOL | ESOL | |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Break | ||
| 14:00 – 15:00 | ESOL | ESOL | |
You may also come to the campus on Monday and Tuesday for self-study from 9:30 – 17:00 if you wish.
Each unit includes:
- Speaking & Listening – 15 weeks (120 hours)
- Reading – 6 weeks (60 hours)
- Writing – 9 weeks (90 hours)
Total study time: 30 weeks, 270 hours
Calendar for Ascentis ESOL
Starting in February 2026
Speaking & Listening (15 weeks, with Easter break)
| Week | Wednesday | Thursday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 Feb 2026 | 26 Feb 2026 |
| 2 | 04 Mar 2026 | 05 Mar 2026 |
| 3 | 11 Mar 2026 | 12 Mar 2026 |
| 4 | 18 Mar 2026 | 19 Mar 2026 |
| 5 | 25 Mar 2026 | 26 Mar 2026 |
| 6 | 01 Apr 2026 | 02 Apr 2026 |
| 08 Apr 2026 Holiday | 09 Apr 2026 Holiday | |
| 15 Apr 2026 Holiday | 16 Apr 2026 Holiday | |
| 7 | 22 Apr 2026 | 23 Apr 2026 |
| 8 | 29 Apr 2026 | 30 Apr 2026 |
| 9 | 06 May 2026 | 07 May 2026 |
| 10 | 13 May 2026 | 14 May 2026 |
| 11 | 20 May 2026 | 21 May 2026 |
| 12 | 27 May 2026 | 28 May 2026 |
| 13 | 03 Jun 2026 | 04 Jun 2026 |
| 14 | 10 Jun 2026 | 11 Jun 2026 |
| 15 | 17 Jun 2026 | 18 Jun 2026 |
- 24 & 25 Jun 2026 – Holiday
- 01 & 02 Jul 2026 – Holiday
Reading (6 weeks after holiday)
| Week | Wednesday | Thursday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 08 Jul 2026 | 09 Jul 2026 |
| 2 | 15 Jul 2026 | 16 Jul 2026 |
| 3 | 22 Jul 2026 | 23 Jul 2026 |
| 4 | 29 Jul 2026 | 30 Jul 2026 |
| 5 | 05 Aug 2026 | 06 Aug 2026 |
| 6 | 12 Aug 2026 | 13 Aug 2026 |
Writing (9 weeks after holiday)
| Week | Wednesday | Thursday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 02 Sep 2026 | 03 Sep 2026 |
| 2 | 09 Sep 2026 | 10 Sep 2026 |
| 3 | 16 Sep 2026 | 17 Sep 2026 |
| 4 | 23 Sep 2026 | 24 Sep 2026 |
| 5 | 30 Sep 2026 | 01 Oct 2026 |
| 6 | 07 Oct 2026 | 08 Oct 2026 |
| 7 | 14 Oct 2026 | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 8 | 21 Oct 2026 | 22 Oct 2026 |
| 9 | 28 Oct 2026 | 29 Oct 2026 |
£12 per hour
Total cost for 270 hours: £3,240
There are no extra fees for registration, exams, certificates, materials, or activities.
Terms and Conditions
Tuition Fees, Refunds and Compensation Policy.
Entry 1 (Beginner)
You learn to:
- Understand simple spoken English
- Ask and answer basic questions
- Read short texts
- Write simple sentences and complete forms
Entry 2 (Elementary)
You learn to:
- Understand everyday spoken English
- Speak in short conversations
- Read simple texts and find information
- Write short texts for a purpose
Entry 3 (PreIntermediate)
You learn to:
- Understand the main ideas in conversations
- Take part in discussions
- Read longer texts and understand purpose
- Plan and write short texts for different audiences
Level 1 (Intermediate)
You learn to:
- Understand detailed spoken English
- Speak clearly in discussions
- Read different types of texts
- Write texts for different tasks and audiences
Level 2 (Advanced)
You learn to:
- Understand complex spoken English
- Take part in longer discussions
- Read detailed texts and understand meaning
- Plan and write longer texts for different purposes
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Maximum class size: 16 students
- Lessons take place between 10:00 and 16:30
- Holiday dates for classes starting on 25 Feb 2026: 08 & 09 April; 24 & 25 June; 01 & 02 Jul; 19 & 20 Aug; 26 & 27 Aug
- Full details of the Ascentis ESOL Qualification can be found on the Ascentis website
NCFE Functional Skills English (Level 1 and Level 2)
Functional Skills English helps you use English in real-life situations.
It is useful for work, apprenticeships and further study.
You study:
- Speaking, Listening and Communicating
- Reading
- Writing
Levels:
| ESOL Level | Equivalent | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | GCSE grades 1–3 | You can use English independently in familiar situations |
| Level 2 | GCSE grade 4 | The level needed for many jobs, colleges and universities |
You study 2 days per week, 5 hours per day.
Total study time: 60 hours over 6 weeks.
Functional Skills Weekly Timetable:
| Time | Tuesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30 – 11:00 | FS English | FS English | |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Break | ||
| 11:30 – 13:00 | FS English | FS English | |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Break | ||
| 14:00 – 16:00 | FS English | FS English | |
You may also come to the campus on Monday and Tuesday for self-study from 9:30 – 17:00 if you wish.
Calendar for NCFE Functional Skills English
Starting in March 2026
| Week | Tuesday | Wednesday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 03 Mar 2026 | 04 Mar 2026 |
| 2 | 10 Mar 2026 | 11 Mar 2026 |
| 3 | 17 Mar 2026 | 18 Mar 2026 |
| 4 | 24 Mar 2026 | 25 Mar 2026 |
| 5 | 31 Mar 2026 | 01 Apr 2026 |
| 6 | 07 Apr 2026 | 08 Apr 2026 |
£12 per hour
Total cost: £720
There are no extra fees for registration, exams, certificates, materials, or activities.
Terms and Conditions
Tuition Fees, Refunds and Compensation Policy.
What You Learn at Level 1
You learn to:
- Understand the main ideas in texts
- Ask and answer questions
- Give your opinion
- Write clear, simple texts
- Use grammar and punctuation correctly
What You Learn at Level 2
You learn to:
- Understand detailed texts
- Compare ideas and opinions
- Write clear, wellstructured texts
- Use formal and informal language correctly
- Communicate confidently in discussions
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Maximum class size: 16 students
- Lessons take place between 10:00 and 16:30
- This is a six week course so there are no holidays
- Full details of the NCFE Functional Skills English can be found on the NCFE website
Location: Castle Boulevard, Nottingham
Our English Language Hub is in the centre of Nottingham.
It is easy to reach and only a short walk from the city centre. The building is modern and comfortable, and it has everything you need for your studies.
Facilities include:
A kitchen and cafeteria area
A prayer room and halal-friendly facilities
Student lounge areas and quiet spaces for selfstudy
Language and IT rooms, plus a library
Staff who can help you with your studies and welfare
Staff rooms
Classrooms with Smart Screens
Leisure Programme
Student Support
We have student support staff who can help you. They work with your tutors and can also help you with your studies. They can support you with other problems in your daily life too. We also have a trained counsellor. You can talk to the counsellor for free if you need help with your feelings, stress, or wellbeing.
£12 per hour
Course | Total Weeks | Total Hours | Total Cost |
Ascentis ESOL Courses (Entry 1 to Level 2) | 30 | 270 | £3240 |
NCFE Functional Skills English (Level 1 and Level 2) | 6 | 60 | £720 |
There are no extra fees for registration, materials, or activities.
Terms and Conditions
Tuition Fees, Refunds and Compensation Policy.
