Celebrating Kate Hargreaves: 30 Years of Living Learning English
In 1995, Kate Hargreaves founded Living Learning English with a clear idea – to offer students the opportunity to live with a teacher and learn through real life. Thirty years on, as Kate retires, we celebrate the organisation she built, the people she inspired, and the impact she has had on English language learning in the UK and worldwide.
From an idea to a trusted name (1995 → today)
When Living Learning English began, Kate was still Head of EFL at Sidcot School, where she had also established the International Foundation Programme. Alongside this role, she saw the need for a different kind of support for international students: a chance to learn in a teacher’s home, with lessons shaped around the student’s goals and interests.
From those early days, Living Learning English grew steadily – from a partnership at the kitchen table to a company with more than 100 teachers across the UK. Kate’s focus on personalisation, professionalism and care gave the company its strong reputation, and her insistence on quality ensured that growth never came at the cost of standards.
Community at the core – an LLE team meeting on the water in 2010.
Milestones that tell a story
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1995 – LLE & LLE Guardianship founded while Kate was also Head of EFL at Sidcot School and founder of the International Foundation Programme.
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2003 – Kate became sole owner, resigning from Sidcot to focus fully on LLE.
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2007–2009 – LLE registered as a Limited Company, achieved British Council and AEGIS accreditation, and was invited to join Quality English.
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2012 – Expanded into Spain; Living Learning English trademarked.
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2015 – Commissioned bespoke teacher, student and agent portals – an investment in quality systems that reflected Kate’s long-term vision.
Celebrating 20 years of Living Learning English at the Teachers’ Conference, 2015.
The LLE team in 2015.
Helen and Isabel at Quality English Bilbao, 2015.
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2017–2018 – Developed and launched online tuition systems, years ahead of wider industry adoption.
Teachers’ Conference 2017 – innovation and community hand in hand.
Marking milestones together – the LLE Boat Party, 2018.
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2020–2022 – Navigated the challenges of the pandemic with resilience, expanding online tuition and supporting teachers and families through uncertain times.
LLE’s Bristol office before lockdown and remote working.
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2021–2023 – Acorn English Homestay acquired; Guardianship wound down as market conditions changed.
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2025 – Academic Summer and LLE become sister companies; Kate hands over to Helen Lami as Principal.
Kate Hargreaves and Helen Lami – looking ahead together.
Working together: Kate & Helen
Kate and Helen Lami have known each other for more than 20 years, first meeting when both were working in international education marketing. They often travelled together, shared ideas and encouraged one another in their ventures. Over the years, LLE and Academic Summer have naturally complemented each other: one-to-one immersion at LLE alongside group residential CLIL programmes at Academic Summer.
This long-standing partnership made the 2025 transition a natural step. Both organisations share values of personalisation, quality and care, and both leaders have built reputations based on trust and professionalism. With Helen taking over as Principal, Kate’s legacy is in safe hands.
Kate and Helen on a visit to Ukraine and Moldova, 2006.
Kate and Helen at English UK, 2014.
People and possibilities
Kate has always said that the heart of Living Learning English is not systems or structures, but people. Under her leadership, thousands of students have improved their English, built confidence, and discovered new opportunities. Teachers and staff have stayed with the organisation for decades, drawn by its sense of purpose and integrity.
Some stories stand out:
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A Swiss student who loved music was given the chance to play the organ at Llandaff Cathedral, arranged by his teacher.
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A boy with dyslexia who studied with LLE before joining a UK boarding school later went on to win a Microsoft science award.
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Families who returned year after year, sometimes bringing the next generation.
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Students with special educational needs who flourished with tailored one-to-one support.
These stories reflect the impact of Kate’s vision: education that is personal, meaningful, and life-changing.
Kate visiting an LLE teacher in Northern Ireland, 2024.
Some of the LLE team, 2016.
Partnerships built on trust – Kate with Louise Lanzer at the LLE office, 2016.
Global connections
Kate’s career has always been international. She built long-standing relationships with agents and partners across the world, often turning professional links into friendships.
Highlights include:
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Building partnerships in China (Roadshow 2018, Fam Trip 2019).
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Expanding networks in Latin America (Fam Trip 2018).
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Sharing expertise at English UK Antalya (2014).
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Early European expansion through Living Learning Spanish in Seville (2013).
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Welcoming partners to Bristol, such as Andy from Guangzhou (2013).
Building partnerships in China, 2018.
Welcoming agents to the UK during the 2019 Fam Trip.
Latin America Fam Trip, 2018.
Sharing expertise at English UK Antalya, 2014.
Andy from Guangzhou visiting the LLE office, 2013.
Visiting Seville to set up Living Learning Spanish, 2013.
What continues
Living Learning English will continue under Helen’s leadership, with the same focus on personalisation, careful teacher matching and strong support for families and agents. Kate will remain available during the handover to ensure continuity and smooth transition.
Kate Hargreaves and Helen Lami – looking ahead together.
Looking ahead
Kate is now looking forward to new adventures – travelling with her husband, exploring family history, enjoying time with her grandchildren and continuing to play pickleball, a sport she loves. After 30 summers of welcoming students, she will finally have one to herself.
Kate and her husband, Simon
Thank you
Kate has shaped Living Learning English with professionalism, warmth and integrity. We thank her for her leadership over the past 30 years and wish her every success in the next chapter.
