Spending time with your child choosing a summer school is good fun. However, there is a big choice of schools and it is easy to get confused. In this series of articles, we give parents the information they need to choose the right summer school for their child.

In this article we explain the difference between

(1) Summer schools for groups and

(2) Summer schools for individuals

Summer schools for groups:

Definition: students travel in a group, often a large group, with a Group Leader (a teacher or other adult from their country).

(+) Parents feel relaxed.

(-) Not surprisingly, when students need help, they  often speak first with their Group Leaders in their language (not in English)

(-) Also not surprisingly, because they have friends from their country, many students do not make the effort to mix with students from other countries.

(-) Students speak English less.

(-) Often there are too many students from one country.

Summer schools for individuals: 

Definition: students go to summer school independently, or with a brother/sister, or with one or two friends.

(+) Lots of staff to look after students (e.g. 1 staff member for every 4 students) and excellent systems for welfare and safety.

(+) Mixing with students from other countries is a must – students have to speak English all day long.

(+) Students speak with the school’s staff in English all day long.

(+) Better nationality mix and smaller numbers of students from each country.

(+) Richer cultural experience.

(-) Students often feel nervous on the first day.

Which kind of school is best for your child?

Both summer schools designed for individuals and summer schools designed for groups can offer a positive experience for your child. If you want your child to travel with a teacher from their country, you will have to choose a Group Summer School. However, for parents who want their children to live in an English speaking environment, make big improvements in their fluency and gain confidence away from home, a summer school designed for individuals is the best option.

 

The location of the campus is important when you are choosing a summer school. Why is Ludlow the perfect place for your children’s summer school adventure?

Safe

Every parent wants their children to have new experiences and to explore the world, but more than that, every parent wants their child to be safe. Ludlow is not a big city. It is a very safe, secure town, which means that when your child is on summer school, you can feel relaxed. Also, because we are the only summer school in Ludlow, your child really will experience complete immersion in English.

Historic

King Henry VIII had six wives. One of them, Catherine of Aragon, lived in Ludlow Castle, which dates back to 1086 and is located on the main square in the centre of the town.The town walls still exist today, making Ludlow a very special place to visit. There are many black and white houses dating back to Shakespeare’s time. Do explore the narrow, medieval streets and take a walk along the river for the best views of the castle!

Cultural capital

Ludlow is a wealthy town with many entrepreneurial people and young people who enjoy meeting our students and talking to them whether it be in the castle, at the market or in the shops. It is a famous destination for food and cultural festivals including:

www.ludlowfringe.co.uk  www.foodfestival.co.uk

Options for Parents

Parents also love Ludlow! Some parents bring their children to summer school and spend a few days in Ludlow staying in one of the beautiful hotels and trying out some of the famous restaurants:

www.townhouseludlow.co.uk   www.thecharltonarms.co.uk

www.ludlowcottages.co.uk   www.dinhamhall.co.uk

Parents can even do a 100% personalised language course at a school for adults 20 minutes drive away. The Lydbury English Centre has a fantastic reputation for teaching business people who need English for very specific purposes.

Central

Because the campus is located in the centre of England, our students see more of the UK. England is quite a small country, and from Ludlow in the centre, you can reach most of the most famous cities in about two hours or less.  In summer 2016 our students will visit:

 In the North: Liverpool

In Central England: Birmingham,  Shakespeare’s Stratford, Warwick Castle, Shrewsbury

In the South: Oxford, Bath, Bristol

We offer free airport transfers from Birmingham airport (1 hour 20 minutes). Coach transfers from Heathrow (2 hours 30 minutes) are only £40 each way.

Ludlow: the safe, summer adventure

Beautiful, with 1000 years of history and near all the famous places in England, Ludlow is the perfect place for your children’s safe summer school adventure.