The Bell story began over a half a century ago when a young British army officer - Lieutenant Frank Bell - was captured as a prisoner of war. Confronting the daily hardship and boredom of prison life, Frank began teaching his fellow prisoners Spanish and French, a simple act of defiance that quickly led to the creation of a secret university - teaching a broad range of subjects - right there in the harsh conditions of the prison camp.

After the war, Frank Bell returned to England where, reflecting on his experiences, he became convinced that the route to international co-operation and understanding lay in learning. This led him, in 1955, to open his first language school in Cambridge, which still operates today.

In 1972, he established an educational charity - the Bell Educational Trust (now trading as Bell International). Its main aims remain: to provide language education, mainly in English, for adult students and young learners; to train teachers of English; and to offer language learning and teacher training experiences that will promote international understanding and intercultural exchange.