Location: United Kingdom
In 2017, the statutory body running London’s extensive public transport network approached Trinity College London via the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) division of the Home Office.
Transport for London (TfL) sought a reputable provider to conduct English language skills assessments for Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) drivers. Trinity College London agreed to a three-year contract, lasting until September 2021.
Responding to TfL’s new licence requirements
In late 2016, TfL introduced an English language requirement for its private hire drivers — a minimum of level B1 as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This requirement encompassed speaking, listening, reading and writing English.
Every application for a new or renewed PHV licence that came to TfL on or after 14 October 2016 had to provide evidence that this standard was met. Trinity College London was engaged to assist with this requirement.
We were asked to provide Integrated Skills in English (ISE) examinations under secure test conditions, leveraging our existing and extensive London-based Secure English Language Testing (SELT) network.
Increasing testing availability by 200%
As part of this agreement with TfL, the English language skills of new and repeat PHV licence applicants. This entailed increasing the existing availability of ISE testing through the SELT network by 200% to meet increased demand.
We also provided numerous resources and practice materials to TfL to ensure that candidates were supported during the examination preparation phase.
Thousands of drivers successfully assessed
Over the three-year span of the project, from 2017 to the agreed-upon endpoint in 2021, approximately 10,000 PHV licence candidates were successfully tested based on their English language competency.
The rigorous standards of Trinity’s contemporary four skills qualification enabled TfL to effectively enforce its new requirements and make hiring choices accordingly.