Whatever the course on offer, being accredited means being scrutinised, checking up on the quality of service in English teaching institutions, setting standards and monitoring them. It means rigorous and regular independent inspections organised by the British Council, and spot checks to ensure standards in teaching, teaching qualifications, management, accommodation, premises, resources and student care. Accreditation also means vetting publicity material to ensure that schools deliver what they claim to deliver. It means a complaints scheme, so that any individual student or their sponsor can appeal to an external assessor if they feel they have been misled, mistreated or have not had value for money. Complaints, however, are rare - in 1995, the British Council dealt with just about thirty for its English language courses, and these were mostly about accommodation.
Every complaint is followed up.
This service has continued in the new scheme. Because a good name and reputation are absolutely essential. The member institutions choose to subject themselves to inspection and assessment. They pay an annual fee and meet the costs of inspections themselves. No inspection means no recognition.