New English requirements for working in the UK

Foreign doctors working in the UK already need to have English at IELTS level 7.5. Today, a Government minister has just announced that people who work with the public in the state sector will need to have fluent English. This includes NHS and state school staff.

What this means for people whose English is a second or additional language is still quite unclear because the Government has only described the necessary level in terms of native speaker school exams (GCSE grade C or Level Two). However, it might be equivalent to Cambridge First Grade B. If this happens, many staff may have to take EFL/ESOL exams

New law will be introduced this Autumn but changes often take place before new law is finally passed. Let’s see what happens!