The Bell Foundation

What The Bell Foundation does

The Bell Foundation is a UK-registered charity headquartered in Cambridge that addresses language-based exclusion through evidence-based programmes for speakers of English as an Additional Language (EAL) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). It operates three core service lines: UK schools (training, the award-winning EAL Assessment Framework, accreditation, and the ITTEC EAL Matrix for initial teacher training), post-16 and adult ESOL (criminal justice programmes including the Prison ESOL Screening Tool, the ESOL Tutor Resource Pack, and the Beacon Awards in partnership with the Association of Colleges), and international schools (Language for Results International, online courses, and ALFRI accreditation). Its proprietary technology stack centres on the EAL Assessment Framework co-developed with King's College London and University of Cambridge, complemented by a Digital EAL Assessment Tracker, with a five-level proficiency scale aligned to former Department for Education School Census standards.

The Foundation's revenue model is hybrid: grant and donation funding underwrites its charitable mission, while fee-bearing services — online training courses at £49-£162, international school courses from £150 per participant, and accreditation at £2,100 per school — generate modest commercial income. Core resources and frameworks are provided free to UK schools and not-for-profits, supporting a freemium adoption engine that has trained more than 100,000 teachers since 2012 and recorded 244,000+ downloads. Distribution combines direct digital self-service, a licensed network of 10+ regional Centres of Expertise, and partnerships with NGOs, academic institutions, and sector bodies.

Name

The Bell Foundation

Legal name

The Bell Foundation

Website

https://bell-foundation.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Bell Foundation is a UK-registered charity that addresses language-based exclusion through evidence-based EAL and ESOL programmes, serving UK schools, post-16 and adult learners, the criminal justice sector, and international schools worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Education Services

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigrant/Integration Language Programs (ESL/ESOL, Civics-Integrated) (EDAMAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

English Language Learner (ELL/ESL) Academic Catch-Up & Bridge Programs (EDANAJAL), ESL Literacy & Foundational English (Pre-beginner/Alphabetics) (EDAAACAB), ESL for Work & Workplace English (ESP) (EDAAACAC), ESL for Specific Industries (Healthcare, Hospitality, Construction, etc.) (EDAAACAD), English for Citizenship (ESL/Civics Integrated) (EDAAADAC)

Keywords

• Language education programmes
• EAL assessment frameworks
• ESOL teacher training
• School accreditation schemes
• Language education charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable grants and donations: The Foundation operates as a charity funded through grants and donations to support its mission of overcoming exclusion through language education
2. Training course fees: Revenue from paid training courses for educators including online courses (£145.80-£162), webinars (some free), and professional development programmes
3. International school programmes: Fees for Language for Results International whole-school programmes including online courses (£150 per person per course) and accreditation (£2,100 per school)
4. Free resources (public good): Core educational resources, assessment frameworks, and guidance documents are provided free of charge to schools and educators in the UK

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Bell Foundation is a UK-registered charity that develops and delivers evidence-based language education programmes, assessment frameworks, training courses, and accreditation schemes focused on English as an Additional Language (EAL) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Its offerings include the award-winning EAL Assessment Framework (developed with King's College London and University of Cambridge), the Language for Results UK and International school programmes, EAL Accreditation, the Prison ESOL Screening Tool, and professional development training for educators.

Product overview

The Bell Foundation offers a suite of educational products and programmes focused on English as an Additional Language (EAL) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The core offerings include the award-winning EAL Assessment Framework for Schools (primary, secondary, and EYFS versions) and Digital EAL Assessment Tracker, developed in partnership with King's College London and University of Cambridge. For UK schools, the Language for Results programme provides evidence-based training and support. For international schools, Language for Results International offers online courses, accreditation (ALFRI), and whole-school solutions. Additional products include EAL Accreditation schemes, the Beacon Awards for Excellence in ESOL, Prison ESOL Screening Tool, ESOL Tutor Resource Pack, training courses (webinars, online, blended), teaching strategies resources, and the ITTEC EAL Matrix for teacher training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Language for Results International: The Bell Foundation's EAL programme for international schools, offering evidence-informed online courses, webinars, resources, an award-winning Assessment Framework, and a whole-school accreditation scheme.
• Lived Experience Partner Network

Products and services

• EAL Assessment Framework for Schools An award-winning assessment tool designed to accurately assess the proficiency in English of plurilingual learners who use English as an Additional Language. Developed in partnership with King's College London and the University of Cambridge. Available for primary schools, secondary schools, and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) settings.
• Digital EAL Assessment Tracker A digital tool to track the progress of learners who use EAL over time, designed to complement the EAL Assessment Framework.
• Language for Results (UK Schools) A long-term, not-for-profit, evaluated programme designed to improve the attainment of children who speak English as an Additional Language by developing the knowledge and skills of school staff and supporting whole-school approaches to EAL provision.
• Language for Results International The Bell Foundation's EAL programme for international schools, offering evidence-informed online courses, webinars, high-quality resources, an award-winning Assessment Framework, and a whole-school accreditation scheme (ALFRI) that enables international schools to showcase the quality of their EAL provision.
• EAL Accreditation (UK) An accreditation scheme for UK-based state and independent schools to demonstrate the quality of their EAL provision, offering a recognised and trusted stamp of excellence.
• Accreditation by Language for Results International (ALFRI) An accreditation scheme for international schools to raise the profile and quality of EAL provision across the whole school and provides a quality mark to help schools stand out.
• Prison ESOL Screening Tool for Speaking and Listening A questionnaire designed to be used by prison staff who are not language specialists to identify whether individuals who speak English as a second or additional language would benefit from attending ESOL classes, created in collaboration with Learning and Work Institute and De Montfort University.
• ESOL Tutor Resource Pack A resource pack to support tutors working in the secure estate and in community rehabilitation/probation settings, combining language learning with embedded wider capabilities in numeracy, digital, health, financial and civic skills.
• EAL/ESOL Training Courses High-quality training opportunities developed and taught by EAL and ESOL experts, including paid online courses, blended courses, regional training, and webinars, designed for educators supporting EAL learners.
• ITTEC EAL Matrix The ITTEC EAL Matrix defines the core knowledge, skills, and behaviours that underpin effective teaching of multilingual pupils who use EAL, supporting Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and Early Career Teacher (ECT) providers to embed evidence-informed EAL pedagogy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 teachers trained since 2012
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Refugee Education UK (REUK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for research on education for late arrivals and young refugees; REUK conducted research on access to education for late arrivals aged 13-19 who have been forcibly displaced
• EELGA Strategic Migration PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEast of England Local Government Association's Strategic Migration Partnership runs projects supporting refugees and asylum seekers with employment opportunities, funded by The Bell Foundation
• PactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrison charity partner for the Building Bridges project enhancing accessibility of ESOL courses for speakers of English as a second or additional language in prison settings
• Law Centres NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to make legal services more accessible to local Roma communities through grant-funded programme
• High Trees Community Development TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to make ESOL provision more accessible for individuals in work, particularly those stuck in low-paid work due to poor English; research on challenges faced by working adults accessing ESOL
• Refugee ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPathways to Work programme supporting refugees with employment opportunities through mentoring; case study participant progressed towards goal of becoming a maths teacher
• Hibiscus InitiativessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership addressing barriers for Black and Minoritised Migrant Women in the UK, exploring challenges and achievements over ten years of collaboration
• GYROS (Great Yarmouth Refugee Outreach & Support)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatest partner organisation of The Bell Foundation for grant-funded project supporting local refugee community
• Shannon TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing Turning Pages reading guides to ESOL learners in prison through the Foundation's criminal justice programme
• Learning and Work InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in 'Improving Language, Improving Lives' project to develop ESOL Tutor Resource Pack for prison and probation settings
• De Montfort University LeicestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in 'Improving Language, Improving Lives' project; collaborated on ESOL Tutor Resource Pack and Prison ESOL Screening Tool
• King's College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for development of EAL Assessment Framework for Schools, bringing expertise in language assessment
• University of CambridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for development of EAL Assessment Framework; research demonstrates link between English proficiency and educational achievement
• University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with Professor Steve Strand and Dr Ariel Lindorff on EAL educational achievement; key findings on proficiency and attainment
• Association of CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Beacon Awards for Excellence in ESOL, recognising outstanding ESOL provision in UK Further Education colleges
• Royal Shakespeare CompanysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBradford College partnership to use Shakespeare's works in ESOL teaching, enriching language learning and confidence building

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Learning and Work Institute: UK charity focused on lifelong learning, adult skills, and ESOL. Already a strategic partner of The Bell Foundation on the ESOL Tutor Resource Pack and Prison ESOL Screening Tool, and addresses overlapping policy, research, and practitioner audiences in adult ESOL.
• NATECLA (National Association for Teaching English and other Community Languages to Adults): UK professional association for ESOL teachers. Closely comparable to The Bell Foundation on the adult ESOL side, providing CPD, resources, and policy representation for the same practitioner audience that the Foundation addresses through its post-16 and adults programme.
• Refugee Action: UK charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers, partnered with The Bell Foundation on the Pathways to Work programme. Operates in the same refugee-EAL intersection with grant-funded integration support.
• Refugee Education UK (REUK): UK charity supporting refugee access to education. Strategic partner of The Bell Foundation on research for newly arrived young refugees; addresses overlapping beneficiary populations (newcomer EAL learners) with comparable grant-funded, evidence-led delivery.
• NALDIC (National Association for Language Development in the Curriculum): UK subject association for EAL teachers and learners. Directly comparable to The Bell Foundation as both organisations support UK schools with EAL pedagogy, teacher CPD, and policy advocacy - though NALDIC is membership-led rather than product-and-accreditation-led.

Broad incumbents

• Cambridge University Press & Assessment: Operates Cambridge Assessment English, a global English-language testing business. Comparable through its English proficiency assessment products and academic positioning, though operates at much larger scale and as a commercial publisher/exam board rather than a charitable foundation.
• British Council: UK charitable organisation teaching English globally and conducting English-language assessment. Overlaps with The Bell Foundation on teacher training, English language assessment, and international EAL/ESL provision, but operates across a much broader portfolio including cultural relations and exams.

Others

• English UK: UK membership association for accredited English language teaching centres. Comparable as part of the same UK English-language sector ecosystem where The Bell Foundation operates, though English UK represents language schools rather than directly competing in EAL/ESOL teacher training or accreditation.
• Bell Educational Services Ltd (Bell School): UK-based English language school business originally founded by Frank Bell in 1955. Listed separately because The Bell Foundation and Bell School share founder lineage and brand but are operationally and legally distinct, making Bell School a brand-confusion peer rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Education Development Trust: International education charity delivering teacher CPD, school improvement, and education programmes across multiple jurisdictions. Comparable as a UK-headquartered education charity operating teacher training programmes internationally, though its portfolio extends well beyond language education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bellfoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCz4Z-7UIVaKNiC23EYjl1eg/playlists
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-bell-foundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheBellFoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Bell Foundation