LANGUAGE school bosses in Bournemouth and Poole say the area’s £200m-a-year foreign student industry has been bolstered by a High Court ruling.

Judge Mr Justice Foskett ruled yesterday against changes to immigration criteria for overseas students introduced by the last government’s Home Secretary, Alan Johnson.

Opponents had argued that Mr Johnson’s changes to so-called Tier 4 immigration criteria would have raised to GCSE-standard the level of English required to obtain a General Student Visa.

Shane Wilkinson, who runs the BBSI language school in St Peter’s Road, Bournemouth, said the ruling was a victory for common sense.

“I’m obviously delighted with the news. It’s a vindication of all the hard work to reverse a policy that had no basis in logic or common sense,” said Mr Wilkinson.

He said the policy had encouraged overseas students to apply for courses in Australia, America, and Canada, instead of England.

Mr Justice Foskett ruled the changes made by Mr Johnson should have been placed before Parliament, and not issued as guidance by the UK Border Agency.

Bournemouth’s tourism chief, Mark Smith, said: “Bournemouth and Poole is the largest centre outside London for learning English as a foreign language.

“We are absolutely delighted with today’s judgement.

“This should safeguard hundreds of jobs and valuable income for thousands of local families that is particularly important in this difficult economic climate.”

Solicitor Nichola Carter, who challenged the criteria for teaching association English UK, said the ruling confirmed Parliament must be included in decisions that significantly changed the immigration system.

A spokesman for the UK Border Agency said: “We are carefully considering this judgement.

“The government is committed to undertake a review into the student tier of the points-based system in its entirety later this year to ensure that every student who comes to the UK is genuine.”