SCEC was founded in 1989 by Helen Thomas, and was well regarded in Australia as the first school to receive government accreditation for a curriculum which included community integration and cultural activities as part of its teaching program.The concepts for the school and the educational tours were initiated in the late 1980’s and began as short cultural exchange programs. These were made up of English lessons on “how to communicate with the host family” and fun activities such as surfing lessons, canoeing and horse riding. Each tour was personalised for the individual group. The very first group to arrive in Noosa was made up of city councillors from Japan. This group’s arrival coincided with the worst flood Noosa had ever seen. The roads into Noosa were flooded and the hotel the group was booked into was under water. Nevertheless our mutual interest in education and international understanding (plus lots of laughs over dinner!) created long term friendships, and we all agreed that Noosa was the perfect location for program of that kind. The weather has been better ever since, too! The College was originally intended to remain small with a maximum of 40 students. Marketed mainly by word of mouth, it rapidly expanded well beyond that number. By 1995 the College was fully accredited and students were coming from Thailand, Korea, and Indonesia as well as Japan. By 1999, the capacity and enrolment at the College was 100 full-time students, and students were welcomed from Europe, South America and throughout Asia. With the retirement of Helen Thomas in 2004, Ian and Yasuko Pratt purchased shares in the school and integrated it into the Global Village English Centres group. They expanded into new locations, including Brisbane (2006), Byron Bay (2007), Sunshine Coast (2009) and Perth (2010). In 2011, the company was rebranded as Lexis English, a new brand designed to highlight the unique Australian identity of the group.

Lexis is Perth’s only true beachside English school and Scarborough Beach is one of Perth’s liveliest suburbs, with a huge variety of cafés, restaurants, bars and surf shops attracting young people from all over the world to work, surf and study. Built over two levels around a bright, airy atrium,  Lexis English Perth is adjacent to all the amenities you could possibly need, with public transport links to the city leaving from right outside the front door.  Homestay, our student house, backpacker hostels and share house accommodation are all within easy reach, and with year-round part-time work opportunities in the local hospitality sector, you may never need to leave Scarborough Beach! Lexis Perth offers an ideal mix of serious academic study and the perfect Australian lifestyle.  The teachers and staff at Lexis Perth are dedicated to helping you reach your academic goals, and provide an ideal English study environment.  We understand that there's more to your time in Australia than just study, though, and at Lexis Perth you can walk out of class with your surfboard under your arm and catch a few waves with your friends after school…you will quickly understand why so many people decide not to leave!

Homestay
Homestays are the most popular accommodation option at Lexis.
Homestays provide students that chance to live with a local Australian family, who provide you with a room, meals, a warm welcome and a chance to improve your English at home as well as at school.
We're proud of the quality of our Homestays at Lexis.  All our families are carefully selected and homes regularly inspected by our Accommodation Office team.  We take care to match your interests with a family who we know will give you a great Australian experience.
Homestays provide a great way to know more about the Australian way of life and to speak English every day, all in a comfortable family setting.  There is no better way to practice the English you learn in class than with your Australian family around the dinner table.
 
Homestay Options
All Lexis schools offer a range of Homestay options. Choose what suits you best, and we will do our best to link you with a local family.
Single Homestay includes breakfast, dinner and three meals per day on weekends.  Rooms private and are equipped with bed, desk and other bedroom furniture and students are invited to join in the day to day life of the host family.
Share homestay is the same as Single Homestay, but students share their room with another guest.  This is a popular option for couples or students travelling with friends.
Homestay Bed and Breakfast provides a fully furnished room, breakfast each morning and access to the kitchen where a student can prepare their own lunch and dinner.  Homestay B&B is popular among students who are looking for more independence, or who are not planning on being home in the evenings!
Executive Homestay provides a higher than normal standard of living, as well as a guaranteed private bathroom.  Many older students select Executive Homestay for their time in Australia.
Junior Homestay is provided for students under the age of 18.  We ensure a warm, inviting local family who are prepared to accept the extra responsibility of caring for a Junior student.  Many Junior Homestays also have children at home.  Please note that students under the age of 18 are required to live in homestay accommodation and that all meals are provided for Juniors and as part of the Teen Activity Program (TAP) package.
 
Student Houses
If you are a little more independent and prefer the flexibility of self-catering accommodation, you may wish to consider living in a Lexis student house.
Most houses are within walking distance of school and all linen, crockery, kitchen utensils and appliances and laundry facilities are provided.
 
Backpacker Hostels & Private Accommodation
If you prefer your own space or perhaps after having lived in homestay for some time you decide that you would like to live on your own, all of our locations offer a wide range of private accommodation.
Each school’s accommodation office will be happy to provide you with a list of backpacker hostels, shared accommodation and other options to suit your specific requirements. Alternatively, you may wish to reserve homestay accommodation with us for the first month or more of your course to allow yourself time to find your way around before making your own arrangements.