Bell English Wellington College (ages 12-17)
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Bell English at Wellington College campus offers children and teenagers aged 12-17 high quality summer programs including English language or Business language courses, Professional Academy options of horseback riding, football, eSports and performing arts, afternoon electives and study tours. On a Bell course, students will not only improve their English, but will develop life skills such as confidence, responsibility, respect and teamwork, establishing their route to a rewarding future.
Wellington College is located in the royal county of Berkshire, which is also home to the Queen’s residence of Windsor Castle. One of England’s most exclusive private schools, it was founded by Queen Victoria in 1859 in memory of the Duke of Wellington. The college’s impressive buildings, built in the French chateau style, are surrounded by over 400 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds including woodlands and lakes.
Berkshire is a one hour train ride away from London. London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a 21st Century city with history stretching back to Roman times.
BELL ENGLISH WELLINGTON CAMPUS AT A GLANCE
- Location: Berkshire, United Kingdom
- Age Range: 12-17
- Maximum number of students per class: 180
- Number of lessons per week: 15 hours of English and 9 hours of electives/academies
- Maximum number of students: 14
- Ratio of staff to students: 1 : 6
- Number of full-day excursions per week: 1
- Accommodation type: residential
Bell English Wellington College Duke’s Ride, Crowthorne RG45 7PU, UK
“The Bell Schools have had a longstanding tradition of providing high quality English teaching to foreigners. The first school was started in 1955 in Cambridge by Frank Bell, a University of Cambridge graduate who, as a prisoner of war during WWII, had taught French and Spanish to his fellow prisoners. He returned to England after that experience, convinced that the key to international cooperation and understanding—and ultimately peace in the world—lay in the possibility of human beings communicating with those who come from nations and cultures other than their own. In my travels in England, the Bell name often appears in this context, also in visits to other schools. Frank Bell’s vision is one that I have always shared as a person, and it is my single biggest motivator as a language travel agent. At a practical level, I have always found the Bell schools to be extremely high quality, and indeed they are famous for that internationally. When a few years ago, a client was evaluating junior programs with me for her daughter, from all of the excellent choices available, she settled on Bell because she had remembered studying at the Cambridge school as a teenager herself. Of the junior schools in the Bell portfolio, I have begun with Wellington College on this website because it offers a wide variety of programs that are truly of interest to teenagers. In addition to the standard morning English course, there are many electives and professional academies from which students can choose to complete their program. Wellington College is a beautiful school with top-notch facilities, and is easily reachable from London. The wide range of ages that this program serves will also allow siblings of different ages to attend, and with the fairly large number of students it can accept, each participant can make their own set of friends. Parents will appreciate that the program is of good value, in that the staff-to-student ratio is very high, the courses are intensive and relevant to their children, all the Bell programs have a fantastic nationality mix, and that the price is inclusive of everything.”
Bell Wellington Video
Why study English on the Bell Wellington College summer program?
- Wellington College campus boasts impressive buildings, and is surrounded by 400 acres of landscaped grounds providing the perfect environment for students to study and participate in outdoors activities.
- The Bell English programs were one of only three schools in the UK to receive a point of strength for teaching in the last British Council Inspection of 2015.
- Bell English offers a general Summer Explorer and Young Business Leaders program at its Wellington College campus.
- Bell English at Wellington College offers professional academies of horse-riding, football, performing arts and eSports.
- The summer programs are taught using a project-based approach, which allows students to practice skills that go beyond language and communication, incorporating critical-thinking and collaborative tasks.
- Bell English at Wellington College campus is able to guarantee an impressive staff to students’ ratio of 1 : 6, ensuring every child is taken well care of.
- Bell English at Wellington College campus offers students the opportunity to prepare for and take the Trinity College London Speaking exam (GESE).
The facilities
WELLINGTON COLLEGE FACILITIES AT A GLANCE
- Bright, spacious classrooms with interactive whiteboards
- Separate accommodation for boys and girls
- Dining room
- Free Wi-Fi
- State-of-the-art sports facilities
- Computer study centre
- Student common room
- Art room
- Theatre and drama studios
MORE ON THE PROGRAM SERVICES
Sports Facilities
The Wellington College campus boasts a range of fantastic on-site sports facilities including a sports hall, tennis courts, football pitch, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and several large playing fields.
Student Welfare
Bell English Wellington College staff coordinate all language lessons and activities each day, and stay in the accommodation each night with the students, providing 24-hour supervision.
Airport Transfers
Transfers to and from London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports are included in the price of the course. Marshall Language Services will need to furnish the participant’s flight information to Bell English so that the airport transfers can be organized. When the program is over, Bell English staff will accompany the participants back to the airport and check them into their flights. If they are traveling as unaccompanied minors, they will hand over the children to airline staff.
The courses
SUMMER EXPLORER (AGES 12-17)
The Summer Explorer is a 2-week program for children and teenagers aged 12-17, combining 15 hours of English language lessons, 9 hours of optional professional Academies or 9 hours of elective activities and study tours. English lessons include projects that are designed around the school’s weekly theme focusing on language knowledge and skills development. Students at Wellington also have the opportunity to prepare for and take the Trinity College London Speaking exam (GESE).
Bell Academies
Bell academies are taught by professionals and give students the chance to specialize in one particular area of interest such as tennis, e-Sports or horse-riding.
Students can choose from the following Academies:
Football Academy
Students will receive professional football coaching from Reading Football Club Community Trust. Coaches are qualified by the FA and have extensive experience with both male and female players. The academy also includes a guided tour of the Madejski Stadium, home to the Reading Football Club.
Coaching will cover technical aspects of the game including:
- Dribbling
- Passing
- Shooting
- Heading
- Tackling
- Goalkeeping
Performing Arts Academy
Taught by an experienced Performing Arts specialist, students will improve their theatrical skills through activities including:
- Acting
- Singing
- Dancing
- Stage management
- Costume and set design
The Academy includes an end-of-course production to be performed by the students.
Horse Riding Academy
The Horse Riding Academy takes place at a long-established equestrian school, approved by the British Horse Society and Association of British Riding Schools. Students will have the opportunity to display what they have learnt during the academy at a final “tack and turnout” show and will be presented with a certificate and rosette to celebrate their achievements.
Students will:
- Develop their riding skills including walking, trotting and cantering
- Learn about stable management and how to care for horses
- Learn how to safely handle and tack up horses in the stables
Afternoon Elective Program
The Summer Explorer program includes afternoon electives and Academy options designed to improve communication and confidence while developing academic, creative and active skills.
Students choose three electives on arrival. The following electives are always on offer at Wellington:
- British sports
- Contemporary art
- Event management
- Presentations and debates
- Volleyball
A selection of other electives will also be available on each course. Examples include:
- Art and crafts
- British literature
- Cricket
- Dodgeball
- Football
- Handball
- Health and fitness
- Journalism
- Photography
- Rounders
- Rugby
Study Tours
The Summer Explorer program includes study tours to historic UK destinations such as London, Oxford, Cambridge and Stratford-upon-Avon to enhance classroom learning. Students will be given tasks to do on the trip and will have a feedback lesson afterwards.
Trinity College London Speaking exam
Students have the option to demonstrate their language skills by preparing for and taking the Trinity College London Speaking exam (GESE) at the end of their course at Wellington College.
A sample timetable for the Summer Explorer program is available here.
INTENSIVE ACADEMIC ENGLISH
Intensive Academic English gives students the opportunity to develop their academic English language skills, and gain useful tools and techniques to tackle international exams and their general study needs.
This is a challenging and more intensive course for capable students. It aims to maximize their potential for success in an academic environment by supporting students to learn new skills, develop their confidence, and improve their overall fluency.
- Age: 12-17
- Minimum language level: Pre-intermediate A2
- Staff to student ratio: 1:6
- Maximum class size: 14
- Course length: 2 or 4 weeks
- Entry requirements: Pre-course assessment
A sample timetable for this program is available here.
YOUNG BUSINESS LEADERS (AGES 14-17)
Young Business Leaders is a 3-week intensive program for teenagers aged 14-17, combining 15 hours of business language and practical skills lessons, a business challenge, activities and study tours. The course is available for students with an English level of B1 and above.
Bell Business Challenge
Working in teams, students use all the skills they have learned in class to create and deliver a profitable product or service.
- Week 1: Planning – develop a business concept by conducting market research, allocating finances and creating an advertising campaign
- Week 2: Implementing and Evaluating – launch the business, evaluate progress and reinvest profits
- Week 3: Presentation – teams present their project and discuss successes and areas for development
Business-Themed Study Tours
The program includes study tours to local businesses and destinations such as:
- Mercedes-Benz World
- Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising in London
- Bank of England Museum
- Museum of Design
Students also visit local UK businesses to see how they function. Students are prepared in class before they depart and on the study tour, develop their language skills and business understanding by:
- Conducting interviews
- Taking part in fact-finding challenges
- Completing activity sheets
A sample timetable for this program is available here.
RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION
Boys and girls will live in separate accommodation blocks on the Wellington College campus. The majority of bedrooms are single rooms and include beds, wardrobe, a chest of drawers and a chair. There are shared showers and toilet facilities.
Meals
Residential accommodation includes breakfast, lunch and dinner every day and packed lunches on study tours. Snacks are available during break times and at each evening house meeting. Special dietary requirements can be catered for.
Housekeeping and Laundry
Bedrooms and bathrooms are cleaned regularly, with fresh bed linen provided weekly. There is a free laundry service for machine-washable clothes once a week.
Student Welfare
There is a dedicated houseparent for each accommodation, who are responsible for the care and welfare of students outside of the classroom. All students will attend a daily house meeting led by their houseparent.
Dates and Fees
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