Scarborough business revived as Anglotec and celebrating 40th birthday

One of the country's longest-established language schools, it occupies the splendid villa in Avenue Road, once home to Eric Fenby, the Scarborough musician and amanuensis to composer Frederick Delius.

Under Swedish founder Gustav Edner and his wife, Debbie, it became a familiar part of local life, each summer bringing in hundreds of young people from around the world.

But Covid, followed by the loss of Erasmus funding, dealt the school a severe blow.

It was eventually sold to French-based property developer Thomas Bui, who put his own stamp on it with the name change and added emphasis given to educational technology.

Now there are distinct signs of a major revival, at the centre of which is the school's new principal, Tom Barton, himself a native of Scarborough.

“When I arrived, the place was like the Mary Celeste,” he said.

“There was nobody here - only old papers and cobwebs from past times.”

Appointed last April, he faced the formidable task of turning things around in time for this year's student intake.

Fortunately, his previous career had given him plenty of experience.

After qualifying as a teacher, he spent a decade plying his trade in Italy, followed by spells in Malta, East Timor and Ukraine.

“I sensed it was a good time to come home,” he said.

“I loved working abroad, experiencing new and different cultures, but coming to Anglotec was a challenge I couldn't resist.”

Tom already knew the school's reputation abroad and was greatly saddened to hear it had fallen on hard times.

Challenges were nothing new to him.

“I founded a language school in war-torn Ukraine,” he says with pride.

“If you can do that, nothing in the world of education fazes you.”

Anglolang's history gave him something valuable to build on.

The previous owners had transformed the neglected villa into a thriving international school, which before Brexit, enrolled 300 students a week during the summer months.

Students once again have the opportunity to pursue their English studies in a warm and friendly hi-tec environment, combined with educational visits.

Particularly popular this year have been Whitby, Edinburgh and Old Trafford football ground.

And the experience extends beyond the classroom, with students staying with local host families - one of the features that has long connected the school with the wider community.

“There has been one significant change, the school being renamed Anglotec, to reflect the growing importance of technology in language education,” Tom says.

He is insistent, however, that the new name should not mean abandoning the old identity.

“I am very keen that we do not lose sight of the heritage and tradition we embody,” he added.

“We are well known and well loved in the community and much respected in the educational world.”

The international connections are returning, too.

“Fortunately, the students have come back this year - particularly from Oman.

"New contacts have also been formed in Brazil, Poland, Italy, Turkey and elsewhere.”

Tom is working closely with agencies and it is already looking very promising for next year.

There are plans to extend the school into year-round residential courses.

“It’s lovely in Scarborough at any time,” he said.

“And we are going to run courses this Christmas.”

The Mary Celeste now has its captain back on board and is steering in the right direction.