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Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Volume 494: debated on Monday 15 June 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2009, Official Report, column 1293W, on entry clearances: overseas students, whether the stipulated accreditation entities define the (a) method and (b) frequency with which assessments are undertaken. (277885)

[holding answer 3 June 2009]: The definition of the method and frequency of educational institutions' assessment of students is not the responsibility of the UK Border Agency's approved accreditation bodies.

The awarding bodies responsible for each recognised qualification set out the standards required to achieve the qualification, as well as the assessment methods that are appropriate for each particular qualification.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to expedite the issuing of visas for schoolchildren from overseas who wish to attend independent schools in the UK from September 2009. (278677)

There are no special arrangements to expedite the issuing of visas for schoolchildren from overseas who wish to attend independent schools in the UK. We are committed to processing all visa applications in line with our Customers Service Standards, published on our website at:

www.ukvisas.gov.uk

and which provide a prompt service.