THE heads of seven language schools in the city have written to the Prime Minister over new immigration rules they fear could hit up to 250 jobs in Oxford.

The three-page letter to Gordon Brown argues changes made to student visa regulations in March will stop a large proportion of language Students coming to Britain.

They claim it will cost the 1,000-plus host families, local businesses and schools of millions of pounds of income from thousands of students each year.

The Oxford Mail reported in March how alterations mean all visa students looking to study in the UK for more than six months must pass an English test to intermediate level or beyond. Those below that level will be refused a visa.

Peter Thompson, head of the Oxford School of English, said: “The new minimum-level entry requirement is disastrous for English language schools.

“Students without a fairly proficient grasp of the language will now be prevented from entering the UK. This will remove so many students from the schools’ beginner, elementary and pre-intermediate levels that the classes will become unsustainable and collapse. Locally, the jobs of some 250 school staff are at risk, with clear repercussions to their families and dependants.

“In addition, 1,000-plus host families will lose a significant source of income. Last year about £2.5m was paid by English language schools to Oxford host families.”

In March, one college said it welcomed up to 5,000 students every year. There are 54 Government-accredited colleges in the city.

Mr Thompson and the heads of Oxford English Centre, Eckersley Oxford, Lake School of English, British Study Centres Oxford, College of International Education, Oxford Intensive School of English signed the letter to the Prime Minister on March 25 but have yet to hear back.

Mr Thompson added: “Perhaps the mood is best described as fury at the transparent senselessness of the new laws, combined with considerable anxiety and immense grief that everything we have worked for over the years could be destroyed so swiftly and so completely by a government which has been put in place to protect us.”

The industry now faces a High Court Judicial Review after language schools across Britain argued “the consequences of the new minimum level requirement are so far-reaching that it should have been put before parliament, and that the consultation was so brief and superficial that, in effect, the new measures are illegal”.

Mr Thompson said: “In surprisingly strong language, condemning the Home Secretary, the High Court judge has ruled in our favour and granted the Judicial Review.

“He and our industry are now waiting for the Home Secretary to set a date when he will make his defence. He is requesting a delay but the High Court judge has made it clear he will not grant one and that, if a date is not agreed upon very soon, he will set one himself.”

The Oxford Mail tried to contact the Home Office and UK Border Agency, but had not received a reply by the time we went to press.