The School of English Studies Folkestone (SES) was founded in 1957. SES was the first institution in Britain to offer a specialised Business English programme. SES is accredited by the British Council and is a member of ARELS, Association of Recognised English Language Services, IATEFL, International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language, SEETB, South East England Tourist Board, SCCI, Shepway Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SOLG, Shepway Overseas Liaison Group and SEAL, Society for Effective Affective Learning. As the first school in the world to open a Listening Centre and the first UK school to offer suggestopedic programmes, SES has demonstrated a long-term policy of being at the forefront of developments in professional language training. The school has received the title of 'Best Commercial/Industrial Premises' in Shepway. In April 2001, Oxford University awarded SES the coveted Best English Student award in recognition of SES having trained the best student in the world in the Oxford University/ARELS Higher Exam. SES was one of four Shepway organisations honoured in the 2002 Kent Business Awards of 27 June 2002 and the only educational organisation to receive an award.

Some overseas governments have selected SES as an adviser for professional staff training. In addition, the school has provided special programmes in Folkestone and overseas for organisations as diverse as the European Commission, the French Government, the Russian Engineering Institute, the Czech Government, Swatch, the Japanese Government, the Royal Air Force of Oman, Alcatel, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Volkswagen. The school also offers computer training in Microsoft™ packages, Email and Internet to a wide variety of public, private and company clients. The SES junior department, English Vacation School, operates at the Adult Education Centre in Shorncliffe Road in Summer for students aged 9 - 17 years

The school maintains a close interest in business and educational issues world-wide and within the past few years has been represented at seminars, conferences and discussions in Abu Dhabi, Al-Ain, Al-Buraimi, Athens, Barcelona, Beijing, Berne, Düsseldorf, Geneva, Hanover, Kobe, Kyoto, Leipzig, London, Lyon, Madrid, Miami, Milan, Moscow, Nagoya, New Orleans, Osaka, Paris, Prague, San Francisco, Shanghai, St. Petersburg, Taipei, Tokyo, Valencia, Vienna, Warsaw, Washington DC and Zurich. SES is an official centre for the exams of the University of Cambridge, Oxford and ARELS and for the University for Industry (Ufi).

In the past five years, SES has consolidated its position as one the UK's leading EFL schools with significant investment in its facilities, buildings and staff. The results for 2001 showed industry-leading growth in all major areas. The current year has produced sustained expansion with exports to a record 54 countries. This success has been shared with the local community as SES has co-ordinated the investment of £1.8 in the last two years in domestic training programmes for Shepway organisations.

SES plays a responsible role in the community supporting a variety of charities including Christ Church Children's project, Age Concern and United Response and is the official sponsor of Folkestone Invicta U16 football team. SES is the founder and holds the chair of Shepway Overseas Liaison Group which brings together the SE Kent police, the local council and Shepway businesses.