High Commissioner visits EC London as school marks 20 years

EC English Language Centres proudly welcomed His Excellency Prof. Stephen Montefort, Malta’s new High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, for an official visit to EC London on April 22, 2025. The visit was personally hosted by Andrew Mangion, Executive Chairman and CEO of EC English.

Appointed in January of this year, Prof. Montefort brings a distinguished academic background to his diplomatic post, having served as Deputy Dean and Head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Malta for the past 12 years. His visit underscores the strong cultural and educational ties between Malta and the UK. 

The event coincides with EC’s 20th year of successful operations in the UK capital since EC London opened its doors in 2005. It was the third international school opened by the group, following EC’s initial expansion beyond Malta in 2002 with EC Brighton. An additional school exclusively for adults and professionals aged over 30, EC London 30+, was launched in 2013. Since then, the school has taught a total of 75,000 students of over 150 nationalities in London. “EC London is a proud milestone in EC English’s journey of international growth,” said Mangion, who spearheaded the expansion of EC English into a global brand. 

During the visit, Prof. Montefort met with key members of EC’s London team, including Isabel Ribeiro, Head of EC Operations in the UK & Ireland, and Centre Director Thomas Weedon. The High Commissioner was given a tour of EC London’s newest location at Angel Corner House, 1 Islington High Street, a historic Grade II-listed building with deep roots in the capital’s history. 

The event commemorated the school’s journey through the years, from its original premises in Covent Garden in 2005, to Euston in 2015, and now to its current location as of October 2022. Known to many as ‘The Angel’, the building dates back to the 17th century, once serving as a coaching inn and later as a famous Lyons’ Café. Immortalised on the pages of Oliver Twist and the British Monopoly board as ‘The Angel Islington’, it remains a prominent London landmark.  

“We are proud to call such a most historic and beloved building our home,” said Isabel Ribeiro, Head of EC Operations in the UK & Ireland. “The Angel continues its legacy as a place of connection, learning, and inspiration for our students.” 

With over three decades of experience in the EFL sector since 1991 and a presence in top global destinations, EC English continues to shape the future of language learning while celebrating the heritage that grounds its success. “It’s exciting to see how far we’ve come over the past couple of decades, ” said Mangion. “We look forward to growing our global community and will continue putting innovation at the forefront as industry leaders.” 

Interested in learning more about EC London and the rest of our UK English schools? Get in touch with us here!