Last week marked a significant announcement as the British Council joined forces with Downe House Riyadh School to announce the expansion of English language education. The signing ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Lloyd Anderson, director of the British Council, and Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muaammar, chairman of the board of Downe House Riyadh School.
In response to the growing demand for English language education in Riyadh, the British Council is taking proactive steps to meet the needs of Saudi youth by establishing new English teaching delivery locations.
Anderson said: “I am delighted that we are signing this agreement with Downe House Riyadh School. At the British Council, we always look for ways to provide more English language teaching opportunities in new locations. Through this agreement, we hope to make our English courses more easily accessible to different communities. I am very grateful to the school management for their support, and I look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with them.”
Adele O’Doherty, principal of Downe House School, expressed her delight at signing the agreement with the British Council. She emphasized the school’s readiness to host likeminded education organizations, which share a similar vision to enhance the British educational landscape within the Kingdom. She particularly welcomed the British Council’s programs aimed at teaching and strengthening English language provision in Riyadh.
British Council courses are delivered by professionals with more than 80 years of global leadership experience in English teaching, ensuring that learning is engaging, effective, and relevant. With children, the focus is on literacy, confidence, and communicative skills, while courses for adults incorporate academic skills development and soft skills.
Starting from January 2024, British Council English courses will be available at Downe House Riyadh School for both students and external learners of all ages. This initiative is the first-of-its-kind in Saudi Arabia, and there are plans to expand to other locations.
