With the relaxing of Covid restrictions in the UK, schools across the country are thrilled to welcome students back to their summer school programmes. From late June until the end of August, there is a wide variety of summer schools designed to enrich your children’s summer holidays, provide an invaluable experience of life at a British boarding school, and improve their understanding of British culture.
What are the benefits of summer schools?
Summer schools provide their students with a toolkit for future success, by building upon their current interests and strengths through academic study, sport, music, and other extracurricular activities. Not only will they develop their current skill set, but they will also have the opportunity to venture into new fields and take on novel challenges. Students will gain soft skills such as collaboration, leadership, and independent thinking. These are highly sought-after qualities and will be looked on favourably by admissions teams and employers alike.
They will benefit from all of this whilst thoroughly enjoying themselves. Students across the world have dealt with unprecedented times and it is important to have some time to unwind and relax. Spending time with peers and like-minded individuals with an array of facilities and activities at their disposal is the perfect way to achieve this.
Where are the summer schools located and how do I narrow down my options?
The variety of summer school options is very broad. If your child loves the water, they could spend part of their summer in the Lake District or the Brecon Beacons, where they could learn to canoe or paddleboard. Perhaps your child would prefer a sprawling country estate in Surrey with acres of sports facilities for them to enjoy. Or maybe they would relish the peace and quiet of a quaint cathedral town in Somerset. Whatever the preference, there is an ideal location to match every student’s wishes.
What will my child do at a summer school?
With a range of locations comes an abundance of possible activities. Most summer schools specialise in a particular area so you should have a clear idea of what your child would like to achieve before deciding which summer school they are going to attend. Much like when deciding which school they will attend, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Below, we have outlined the types of summer school to help you understand the available options.
Intensive English improvement
If your child is hoping to attend a British Boarding School, it is necessary to have a strong grasp of the English language. Many summer schools are designed to significantly improve English skills in a short period. They tend to be structured similarly to a school day, with morning and afternoon lessons before social activities with the other students in the evenings. These are available for students of all levels, for those who are complete beginners, to those who wish to complete their higher education in the UK and just need to refine their language skills. Bede’s Summer School in Sussex is an excellent example of an English-centred summer school. You can read more by clicking here.
Preparing for future studies
When applying to universities, it is very useful to have some background knowledge in the subject. Any relevant studies can be mentioned in personal statements and the time taken outside of regular school hours shows a genuine passion for the subject. Charterhouse summer school offers courses including “Introduction to Law” which will help with a seamless transition to studying law at university and, “Entrepreneurship” which will help develop many useful skills for business studies and related courses. Read more about their courses in their brochure.
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) courses
STEAM subjects are highly competitive and courses like that offered at Reddam House in Berkshire, provide students with a novel way to develop their knowledge and get ahead of their peers. Students will have the opportunity to show their innovative side through design and robotics projects, each taking home their creations at the end of the camp to remember their experience. Find out more about Reddam House Berkshire by clicking here.
Extra-curricular academic courses
These courses are for those who wish to develop extensive knowledge outside of the school curriculum and challenge themselves, in addition to adding an invaluable experience to their university applications. The Catalyst course at Winchester College is an excellent opportunity for high-achieving students. The digital course focuses on change in the past, present, and future and is delivered by a team of experts, including a polar ecologist and a Stanford University Professor. Discover more by following this link.
High-level sports coaching
With options for both high-level athletes and beginners, your children could spend two weeks of their summer developing their skills with the guidance of professional coaches. Options include Golf at Bradfield College (brochure), a professional dance course with Bede’s (brochure), and football courses with Liverpool FC (brochure) and LaLiga, courtesy of Charterhouse and Bede’s respectively.
What measures are in place for Covid and student welfare?
Any schools recommended by us will have student welfare at the heart of their programme. The ultimate goal for students is enjoyment and to achieve this, schools will ensure all their needs are taken care of. Safeguarding leaders provide extensive training to all employees to ensure that they are best placed to look out for their students. All schools will have Covid measures in place, including double-vaccinated staff to minimize the risk of transmission. For specific details about each summer school, please send us an email and we will be happy to provide you with further information.
Get in touch
Our tutoring team would be delighted to help you select the best summer school for your children and to make the registration as easy as possible. Please get in touch today by emailing tutoring@gabbitas.com, alternatively call +44 203 026 7443
