We are very sorry: we have taken the very difficult decision to cancel summer school 2021.
If you have a booking, please complete the form at the end of this article.
We are very, very sorry to disappoint the students who were so much looking forward to connecting with other teenagers from all over the world this summer.
Some of the many factors behind our decision to cancel summer school:
Certainty for parents:
We want to give parents certainty as far as possible in advance so that they can make alternative plans.
Quality control:
We want to give students the full More Than English experience and this will be difficult to deliver in an operating environment full of uncertainty
Lack of countries now predicted to reach green category status:
Although most of Europe is expected to reach 40% vaccination of the adult population (at least one dose) by early to mid-June, which is important for a country to be classified as green in the UK’s travel system, it seems that one of the other important criteria, namely a high level of biometric testing for variants, will not be widely reached and therefore most European countries could remain amber (yellow).
New variants:
Concerns over the new variant B.1.617.2 is causing governments including the UK government to change international travel policies at short notice.
Thank you parents and partners
We would like to thank all the parents and partners who, despite all the uncertainty, booked places for their children at More Than English this summer. We really appreciate what you did.
Silver lining – something good that comes from something bad.
They say that “every cloud has a silver lining.“
Right now, that might seem hard to believe:
Covid-19 infection rates are increasing around the world.
Families are facing the unbearable loss of loved ones.
Economic problems are pushing many families into financial distress.
Lessons from a crisis
We are all living under a big cloud. Is there a silver lining to this crisis? Maybe yes. Maybe this is our chance to learn some important lessons.
Lesson 1: Valuing each other
“Unsung hero” – somebody who helps other people, but who does not receive recognition
How do you measure the value of somebody’s work?
Doctors, nurses, paramedics: of course they are all heroes in this crisis. However, the pandemic also ‘shone a light’ on the unsung heroes: the cleaners, the delivery drivers, the supermarket staff and many more people who put themselves in danger in order to keep us safe.
Learning to value each other more is surely a silver lining of this crisis. To all the heroes and the unsung heroes we say “thank you”.
Lesson 2: Renewed focus on climate change
At the end of 2019, very few people could have predicted that in the first weeks of 2020 our comfortable lives would be turned upside down by a submicroscopic agent.
In 2021, we felt the power of nature. We received a reminder that the human race is inescapably part of the natural world.
The pandemic has focused the minds of governments, citizens and businesses by sending an urgent and clear message that we must work together now to halt climate change.
Lesson 3: The power of collaboration across borders
An incredible European team of scientists made us ask: is there anything we can’t achieve when we work together?
Developed in under one year by a Turkish-German couple in Germany.
Manufactured by an American company in Belgium.
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is a miracle of European & American collaboration. To this team, and to vaccine developers everywhere, we say: “thank you”.
Summer School 2021
Would it be true to say that there is little value in learning ‘life lessons’ unless you apply the lessons? How is More Than English applying the lessons of the pandemic?
Bringing children and teenagers from all over the world to summer school so that they learn to live, learn and work together has never been so important. Teaching children and teenagers how to work in international teams is how we start to solve the challenges of tomorrow, today. However, returning to “business as usual” is not an option. We have to change.
Here’s how More Than English is learning the lessons of Covid-19:
(1) Increased focus on developing the leaders of tomorrow
NEW! Academic Enrichment
Future Leaders
We are now offering a Future Leaders course in the mornings (this course also includes a diverse range of study options in the afternoons). Topics covered on the Future Leaders programme include politics, Model United Nations, journalism and more. Students work collaboratively to research, analyse, prioritise and get the job done. At the end of each week they present a final product: a plan, a document, a presentation, a speech.
Students choosing the Future Leaders course also benefit from a full range of afternoon study options.
(2) Science & Technology
NEW! Academic Enrichment
STEM Robotics
Science is providing a way out of the pandemic. New for this year we are offering a STEM Robotics course.
STEM Robotics
Students choosing the STEM Robotics course also benefit from a full range of afternoon study options.
Coding and Virtual Reality
NEW! With new afternoon study options in Coding and Virtual Reality, students can also study Science & Technology in the afternoon.
(3) A greener summer school
Summer school has a negative impact on the environment. By introducing reusable water bottles in 2019 we dramatically reduced our plastic waste.
Reducing the plastic waste created by summer school
This year, we want to do better.
(i) Carbon Offsetting:
New for 2021! We are researching how to most effectively offset carbon emissions from students’ flights
ii) Social Entrepreneurship:
NEW! Students choosing our new Social Entrepreneurship afternoon study option, will learn about the 17 United Nations sustainable development goals which are designed to fight poverty and inequality and tackle climate change by 2030. As part of a project, they will then persuade other students to be part of the change we need.
We are living through a time of big change. With damage to economies and heartbreak for families, Covid-19 is playing havoc with all our lives. However, the power to shape and change the future is in our hands. If we choose to take this opportunity, we can make sure that the 2020s are remembered not only as a time of global crisis, but as the decade during which we learnt to value each and secure a living planet for future generations.
While we are in the process of updating the brochure, please check out the website for all the up-to-date details about summer school 2021. Or, check out the information below, which provides a summary of what’s new for 2021:
If you have B2 English or above you can now do one of our Academic Enrichment programmes in the mornings. You can choose from the following subjects:
Advanced English
STEM Robotics
Future Leaders
Of course, we are still offering English Foundation for students with A2-B1.
NEW! Specialisms
We have changed the name of our afternoon study options to ‘Specialisms’ and we have divided them into 3 groups SPORT; ACTIVE; ACADEMIC. New for 2021 we are adding to the selection:
Active:
Coding
Virtual Reality
Social Entrepreneurship
Academic:
English Literature
IELTS – intro.
Of course, are still offering all the favourite options including Dance, Film Making, Business Challenge a wide range of Professional Sports options and much more.
NEW! Heathrow Airport transfers included
Birmingham Airport transfers are still included in the package price.
New for 2021: we are including Heathrow Airport transfers in the package price also.
Book with confidence
A team you can trust
In 2020, because of Covid-19, we gave parents the choice of postponing their child’s summer school place until 2021 or receiving a full refund of all deposits and fees paid.
The good news is that countries around the world are getting better at treating Covid-19. Schools all around the world are finding ways to teach children safely reducing the risk of infection. Moreover, from December 2020, people in countries around Europe and beyond are already starting to receive the new Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. However, despite all of this good news, we understand that parents still feel that there is uncertainty. For example, nobody knows exactly how quickly governments can “roll out” (deliver) the vaccine to the whole population. That is why we are still offering you our special guarantee so that you can book with confidence:
A full refund for any reason until 20 May 2021
We are pleased to tell you that More Than English will offer a full refund of all deposits and fees paid for whatever reason until 20 May 2021 (read more in our Terms and Conditions 2021)
This means that if you are interested in summer school, there is no need to wait. Book your child’s summer school today – with confidence.
There is a vaccine! People in Europe and beyond are already starting to receive the new Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. However, we understand that every person and every family is affected by Covid-19 in a slightly different way. Some people worry most about medical risks. Some people worry most about jobs and the economy. Every person has different emotions about and experiences of the pandemic and that is why More Than English is offering a 100% full money back guarantee for any reason until 20th May 2021.
A full refund for any reason until 20th May 2021
Let’s make it easy
Book with confidence
If you want to make a summer school booking you can book with confidence.
A £300 deposit will secure your booking.
If you decide on or before 20th May 2021 that you want to cancel, More Than English will refund all the money you have paid (deposit or full amount) within 14 days.
Reserve your child’s place with your education agency. Then, by the 20th May you will know more about your business or your job. You will know if it is possible to get a vaccine in your country. By 20th May you will be in a better position to make your final decision about summer school.
Will I get a refund after 20th May 2021?
On or after 21th May 2021 More Than English will still refund all of the money you paid if Covid-19 laws in your country or in England mean that your child cannot travel to the UK to participate in the course you have booked, for example:
If your child tests positive for Covid-19
If the UK government says that visitors to the UK must quarantine on arrival
More Than English includes Personal Accident & Travel Insurance for every student. In terms of Covid-19, the policy does provide:
Medical: Covid-19 medical insurance (included)
Medical: Covid-19 Supplementary Travel and Accommodation Expenses insurance (included)
The policy provides cover for cancellation or curtailment in some situations, but not in relation to Covid-19. Please contact info@morethanenglish.co.uk if you would like to receive a copy of the insurance policy, or if you would like to discuss in detail what the insurance policy covers and does not cover.
A team you can trust
Claire Norwood & David Meddows: owners of More Than English
In 2020 More Than English cancelled summer school because of Covid-19. We gave parents two choices: (1) full refund or (2) postponement. Some parents chose to postpone and their children are already booked for 2021. Some parents chose a full refund and we refunded all the money they paid.
Please feel free to contact the team at More Than English: we are ready to answer all of your questions so that you can book your child’s place on summer school 2021 with confidence.
In a few short months the Covid-19 virus has changed our world. The purpose of this message is to help parents and students by giving full information about how More Than English summer school is responding.
Even though we continue preparing summer school; even though the summer school booking system is still open, the reality is that right now, the future is difficult to predict and that is why we are taking a flexible approach and we are listening to you, our parents and students.
New bookings
If you would like to book a place on summer school you can using our online booking form. As a temporary measure resulting from the uncertainty created by coronavirus, from April 2020, new customers can now make a booking without paying a deposit. Please note that our standard Terms and Conditions still apply with 31st May as the deadline for full payment.
Existing bookings
If you have already booked and paid a deposit we are presenting 3 options to you:
Postpone your booking until 2021.
> If you choose this option, we will offer this year’s prices and give your family and a limited number of your children’s friends, a 5% discount for life.
If you wish to postpone your booking, please contact us using the form on this page (?) any time on or before 21st May 2020.
Request a full refund of your deposit.
> We understand that for many people the crisis is creating financial problems and general uncertainty. If you wish to cancel your booking and receive a full refund of your deposit, please contact us by using the form on this page (?) any time on or before 21st May 2020.
‘Watch and wait’.
> If you choose this option, you can wait and watch to see if the situation improves. You can still request a return of your deposit any time on or before 21st May 2020. You can still also request to postpone your booking until 2021 by using the form on this page (?) any time on or before 21st May 2020.
Our offer to refund deposits up to and including 21st May is a temporary change in response to Covid-19. Please note, however, that our Terms and Conditions still apply.
What are other parents choosing to do?
Most parents are choosing to ‘watch and wait’. At the time of writing, only two families have contacted More Than English to request a cancellation.
Safety: our first priority
The protection, safety and wellbeing of all children in our care will always be our top priority. At the moment we are monitoring very carefully the advice from the UK government and English UK, which is a representative body for English language training institutions in the UK. However, if we think there is a risk to our pupils, we will not wait for the government to act. As per our Terms and Conditions, More Than English reserves the right to cancel summer school if we think that the safety of our students would be at risk.
Thank you ?
Finally, may we take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’. Thank you to all the brave people around the world, including shop assistants, hospital cleaners, medical experts and delivery drivers who support the rest of us by continuing to go to work every day during the peak of this pandemic.
Thank you also to you our parents and students for your patience at this time. Please stay safe and well. If you would like to contact us about Covid-19 and summer school, please use this form:
International Summer School
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