Our Legacy
With a legacy stretching back 40 years, Burlington English is a global leader in English language teaching and learning resources in countries like the USA, Spain, Greece, and Israel. Our expansive range of print and digital content, language assessments and teacher education services benefit millions of learners in 40+ nations around the world.
In just 4 years, our rapid expansion in India has given us a stronghold to position ourselves as a trusted publisher in the wider Southeast Asia region.
The Publisher That Cares
As the world was gripped by COVID-19, India was finding ways to open virtual school gates for millions of children. Technology was rapidly integrated into existing academic frameworks creating a need for digital resources and new teaching methodologies. At the same time, the launch of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provided an additional push to rethink the way teaching and learning takes place in Indian schools.
Recognising the need for high-quality, flexible language learning resources that closely align with the NEP 2020 and the national curriculum frameworks that followed, Burlington English conducted a nationwide empathic engagement exercise to attempt to find out what schools really want. We interacted with thousands of teachers, school leaders, parents, and students to further understand the pain areas in English language learning. Using this input, we designed our content and services for the Indian market.
I can still vividly recall the official launch of Burlington English in India—a moment that left a lasting impression. The legendary cricketer Kapil Dev took the stage, sharing how English lies at the heart of business, trade, technology, and research. He reflected on his own journey, explaining how mastering the language not only propelled his career but also enriched his life, even nurturing his love for jazz music.
His words still resonate with me, a constant reminder of the power of English in opening doors and shaping futures. We have poured our heart and soul into crafting ‘glocal’ resources by adapting our world class English language learning content to meet the specific needs of Indian schools, ensuring that learners everywhere gain the skills they need to thrive. Till this day, care, service, and addressing the specific needs of our customers are the principles that drive us forward.
In the years since the empathic engagement exercise, Burlington English has established itself as an important player in the English language education sector in India. In schools across 650+ towns and cities of India, our innovative content and services are inspiring teachers and students and promoting a culture of cooperation and care. Our latest resource – The Burlington Magic of Early Years – is a unique Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) kit that brings joy and magic to foundational education.
Early Years: Choice, Wonder, and Joy
The Burlington Magic of the Early Years programme is a three-level course for very young learners aligned to the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF FS) 2022. It is the only ECCE resource in India to be awarded a prestigious five-star rating from the Early Childhood Association / Association for Preparatory Education and Research (ECA-APER). The resource is designed to provide learners with choices fostering wonder and joy in the classroom.
90% of a child’s brain development happens by the age of five, making those formative years critical for building the cognitive, social, and emotional skills that will shape a child’s future. However, there are alarming gaps in foundational literacy and numeracy in India. According to the Annual Status of Education Report 2024, only 23.4% of children in grade 3 can read grade-appropriate texts, and only 33.7% can perform basic subtraction. These figures emphasise the urgent need to build the foundational numeracy and literacy skills that empower children to express themselves meaningfully and thoughtfully, as set out in the national curriculum framework. The Burlington Magic of Early Years kits are designed to do just this and will go a long way to addressing this gap in the early years market.
Given the crucial importance of ECCE, we wanted to create the best set of early years resources available in India. To achieve this, we used a research-based approach, taking into account the latest global developments in ECCE. We also spoke to hundreds of educators across the country to ensure an Indian perspective. An example of this rigorous approach can be seen in our use of the child-friendly MR font in our early years kits. There is a general consensus that the teaching of cursive script can put undue pressure on children who are developing motor skills – cursive writing was removed from the Common Core Standards in the USA in 2010. Hence, we are proud to be one of the first publishers in India to adapt this innovation.
This simple font switch is just one example of how Burlington English is innovating in the ECCE space. Our ultimate goal is to transform the ECCE landscape in India by creating safe and nurturing learning environments that prepare students for success and foster 21st-century skills such as communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. This also reflects our core values of care and service.
With resources that provide children with choices, and that pro mote wonder and joy in the classroom, Burlington English has set a new benchmark in early years education. But our commitment does not stop with students, we also aim to equip and empower India’s educators.
Burlington Teacher Education
Taking our lead from the NEP 2020 which states, “The motivation and empowerment of teachers is required to ensure the best possible future for our children and our nation,” Burlington English provides workshops and webinars for teachers and school leaders focusing on Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Since our entry into Asian markets, through our CPD initiatives, we’ve touched the lives of more than 35,000 teachers and school leaders, a number that we hope will increase significantly in the near future.
One popular example of our CPD services is the ‘4PM 4th Saturday’ series of webinars. Hosted by national and
international experts, our webinars aim to bring the latest classroom
research and practice to teachers across the nation.
Another of our CPD initiatives is our amazingly successful 100ED Fest designed to empower educators in 100 cities. These include many tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India that may not have easy access to high quality CPD. The 100ED Fest includes interactive workshops, panel discussions, and collaborative learning activities to inspire educators, support the integration of technology into teaching, and to help align classroom practice to student aspirations.
The 100ED Fest is truly a celebration of educators and their zeal to inspire classrooms. While all my interactions with the educators attending the 100ED Fest have been interesting, it was Ms. Marian Fernando’s words that moved me – “The workshop was amazing! I have been teaching English for the past 6 years and being associated with Burlington English has helped me stay abreast of the latest pedagogical developments. I might be younger than the rest of my colleagues, but I find myself at par with their knowledge of classroom teaching thanks to Burlington English.”
It is always good to hear from our educators as it reaffirms our belief in why we do what we do. Expect more programmes from Burlington English in 2025 as we continue to listen to teachers and continue to innovate.
Burlington English Digital
For 2025-26, the Ministry of Education has announced a significant investment in the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (AI), demonstrating a clear commitment to integrating technology into school education.
This goal of improved accessibility and inclusivity is exemplified in the Burlington English App, which provides students and teachers anytime, anywhere access to Burlington English content on any device. Not only does the app make language learning more universally accessible to students, but it also provides an opportunity for schools to drive innovation in classroom practice.
One unique feature of the Burlington English App is our patented SpeechTrainer® technology – a revolutionary pronunciation practice tool, which uses AI to create personalised pronunciation training for students. Here’s how it works: as they practice saying words and phrases from the module they are studying; students record themselves on the Burlington English App. When the student has recorded a sufficient number of items for the AI to analyse, SpeechTrainer® creates a bespoke pronunciation programme for each student, providing detailed feedback and practice. Speech Trainer® is available in 11 Indian languages making it easily accessible to students all over the country.
What’s more, our adaptive English language assessment tool – Burlington VTest for Schools – adapts assessment items to match a student’s English language level, providing accurate, stress-free assessment that meets the needs of both students and schools. VTest assessment reports provide detailed feedback which can be used by teachers to inform classroom practice and lesson planning.
SpeechTrainer® and Burlington VTest for Schools are just two examples of how we are using technology to improve learning
outcomes for students and reduce teacher workloads.
Supporting the Development of a Global Workforce
India is set to have the largest working-age population in the world by 2030 and readying today’s students for the world of work poses a significant challenge. This is clearly addressed in the NEP 2020, which calls for the phased integration of vocational education into mainstream education at every level. The commitment to this vision can be seen in the increase in the Department of Higher Education’s budget to 50,077.95 crores in 2025 – an increase of 2,458.95 crores compared to 2024. In addition, five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling are to be set up to equip India’s youth with the skills and competencies needed to succeed as part of a globally mobile workforce.
In response to this shift in focus from academic knowledge to practical career skills in colleges and universities, Burlington English has created a huge range of skills-focused English language learning content for the Indian market. Our English communication skills courses for working professionals focus on the key communication skills – presenting, reporting, negotiating etc. – needed to succeed in an international business environment. Our short, career-specific communication skills courses provide learners with the key vocabulary and language functions needed to succeed in specific industries. Both programmes are structured with busy professionals in mind, allowing users to develop their English language skills without disrupting their daily work schedules. I felt proud when one of the learners from our career skilling programme shared – “Burlington English sessions have proved to be the fastest and most efficient tool for me to improve my communication skills. The various activities have enriched my vocabulary significantly…”
Our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be seen in the partnerships we have built with a range of non-profit organisations, as well as our initiatives to empower marginalised and vulnerable communities with access to high-quality English language education. Once again, all of this reflects our core values of care and service, helping to ensure that Indians from diverse backgrounds get the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Our Vision for 2025 and Beyond
Following our recent successes in Sri Lanka, Burlington English is preparing to expand further in Southeast Asia. We aim to empower 50,000+ teachers across 750 Asian cities, reaching millions of students in schools, colleges, and universities. In addition to IELTS and OET test prep, we will focus on building English language communication skills for the blue-collar workforce, equipping them with the skills they need to compete in global job markets.
Our mission is clear – to unveil global opportunities through research-backed content, cutting-edge technology, high-quality interventions and exemplary service for all stages and ages of learning. The Burlington English mantra is – service, service, service.
