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Summer schools are the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge, not only because you’re actively learning something new and improving your skills but also because you’re exploring and discovering these subjects in a new environment. Often summer school is thought to be an extension of regular school, and for that reason, you may not be eager to join, but summer schools are in fact, one of the most liberating experiences you’ll have in your teenage years. So, to help you understand more about summer school programmes we’re ensuring all your top summer school questions are answered.

1. What is a Summer School?

Summer school is simply a learning programme you join during your summer break. Depending on what your interests are, there are summer courses and programmes to improve a number of skills. For example, if you’re interested in football you can join a summer school that focuses on teaching you world-class football skills. If you’re interested in adventure, some programmes combine adventure activities with English language courses. In fact, what you can learn and do in a summer programme is endless. 

2. How Much Class Work Do You Have To Do At Summer School?

Summer school is the perfect mix of classroom learning, learning through exciting activities, and fun. At our summer schools we’ve prioritised learning through doing and experiencing, which means that you’re not going to feel like you’re in a regular high school classroom. Firstly, because of the small class, you’re able to learn the information faster, which means shorter time spent in the classroom. In fact, you only spend 16 hours a week learning in our interactive classrooms. The remainder of your time you’ll spend doing other activities that will improve your experience and skills while being fun and entertaining.

3. Is Summer School Fun?

Yes! During the programme, you get the opportunity to meet other high school students, visit places you’ve never been before, and make once-in-a-lifetime memories. Because of the interactive nature of our summer school, you’re also more likely to have fun while learning valuable skills that’ll help improve your high school experience. These are life skills that will also help you later in life, perhaps the greatest being that these skills are skills you can use on university campuses and even in your chosen career.

4. What Do You Do On A Summer School Programme?

Because summer school programmes have the word “school” in them they can be confused with regular school – where you spend 7 hours a day, have afterschool activities and get homework. Summer school isn’t like that. 

On our most popular summer school programme students receive 4 hours of English lessons on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. These are held in the mornings so you get the rest of the day to spend doing other activities. Wednesdays and Saturdays are dedicated to exciting trips around England, and Sunday is a day to relax and spend time with your host family.

5. Can You Travel Abroad For Summer School?

Definitely! The most exciting summer schools are the ones where you travel outside of your country and get to spend time with international students. This adds to the experience of summer school. Because not only are you learning about new cultures through being in a different country, you also get to learn about other cultures by meeting international students.

Please note: Our summer programmes are hosted in Brighton, a beachside town in the heart of England and close to London. With Brighton as your base England is far easier to explore.

6. What Age Should You Be To Join Summer Programmes?

It depends on the summer programme you’re interested in joining. For the best summer school experience, it’s best to be with children the same age as you. For example, we separate our summer school programmes into two different groups – junior groups for learners aged 10 to 12 and senior groups for students aged 13 to 17. 

Because of these age limits you know you’re with a group of like-minded students who you’ll have more in common with and will make the experience that much more exciting.

7. What Are The Benefits Of Joining A Summer School?

There are many reasons why you would want to join a summer school. But some of the ones that really stand out are:

a. Increasing your GPA

You can attend a summer school to raise your GPA (grade point average). Since you spend a significant amount of time learning when you do return to your own school you’ll find that the knowledge you gained will stand you in good stead.

b. Becoming More Independent

There’s nothing better to become truly independent than to spend a few weeks away from your family in a safe environment. That’s exactly what you’re able to do when you join a summer course.

c. Learning About A New Culture

The best way to learn about a new culture is to immerse yourself in it. That’s one of the biggest benefits of joining a summer programme as an international student. You’re able to learn more about cultures different to your own, in an environment that feels just like home. 

8 What Do You Learn In Summer School?

Our summer course is a mixture of English language courses, immersive experiences, and fun activities. All designed to ensure you leave the programme that much more confident in your English language abilities than when you arrived. But, these aren’t the only things you can learn and do at a summer school. 

To find the right summer school programme for yourself you need to know what your interests are, and what you would enjoy spending a week or two in your summer break learning about. 

Depending on your interests there are several other summer school programmes you can join, including our Football Academy and Active English Summer School.

The football academy allows you to improve your skills on the field, while you improve your language skills in the classroom.

And our Active summer school is a mixture of adventure activities like stand up paddling, and scuba diving, and a healthy dose of English language lessons. Perfect for the international student that’s seeking adventure.

9. How Many Hours Is Summer School?

The formal classes are only 16 hours a week. These are divided into 4 hours of English language lessons 4 days a week. The rest of your time is either spent interacting in group activities and going on fun, yet meaningful excursions.

10. Is Summer School Safe?

Summer schools are very safe. Not only do we have activity leaders to supervise excursions you also get to stay with an actual family. This means that you’ve got almost 24-hour supervision and help should you need it. 

We also prioritise the safety of our students by ensuring we have the best safety procedures in place. Which include safety information and recommendations of what to do in an emergency, dedicated staff, and points of communication for parents. This allows parents to stay informed regarding the wellbeing of their child. We also have other safety procedures which ensure our summer school programmes remain fun and incident-free. 

11. What Is The Difference Between A Summer School, Summer Programme, Summer Course, and Summer Camp?

Traditionally summer schools are meant to be an extension of your regular schooling activities done for only a few hours a day to improve your grades. But, summer schools now combine learning with other fun activities. These types of programmes can also be called summer programmes. 

A summer course is usually a course you take that extends the duration of your summer break. Which means you’ll go to class for a few hours a day to learn a new skill and return home as you would regular school.

A summer camp is longer than a summer school – as it can usually last for the duration of your summer break. 

Because summer schools are the best of both summer courses and summer camps they’ve become a popular alternative to both.

12. How Do I Join A Summer School?

Now that you know all there is to know about summer schools and these types of programmes you’re probably wondering – how do I join a summer school? The process is very simple. You can start by reading all about our exciting summer programmes and then make a selection based on your needs. Once you’ve found a suitable summer school programme please contact us so we can ensure there’s space for you in our upcoming summer school. 

As providers of England’s most popular summer school programmes to international students, we would love to have you join this year’s group. Our courses are designed to help you regardless of your skill level, and our exciting activities are the best way to enjoy your summer break. For more information please contact English Language Homestays on +0044 1273 462772

Please take a look out summer school page for programmes and activities.