SBC Headington Oxford Summer School (Ages 13-16)

“Nevermind the slick brochures and sales pitches of other schools. The EL Gazette and British Council have said it all about this one—Summer Boarding Courses, who offers this program The Headington School in Oxford, is the number one provider of programs for children and teenagers in all of the United Kingdom. I’ll explain a bit how this ranking works: every four years, the British Council carries out an inspection of its 500 + member schools in the UK (nearly all reputable language schools in the UK are accredited by the British Council). During the inspection, in which two examiners inspect the school for days, they grade a school in 13 areas like teaching, care of students, accommodation, etc., and in 15 areas if the school also has programs for young learners. For each area, a school can receive a grade of “acceptable,” or it can exceed the expectations of the examiner. When the latter is the case, the school receives what’s called a “strength” in that area. As a result of these inspections, language schools typically receive about 3.5 strengths. On its last inspection in 2018, Summer Boarding Courses received 15 out of a possible 15!

Of the various programs offered by Summer Boarding Courses, there are several reasons that I like this one at the Headington School. To begin with, the program itself offers the choice of a general or intensive English course, academic subjects for children with a higher English level, and Coding and Young Leader courses, which are in high demand for this age range. The unique “Time to Shine” course element allows students to give a presentation on what he or she learned as it relates to each option, practically guaranteeing that they will be making progress with their English learning. Secondly, all of the Summer Boarding Courses programs offer a fantastic nationality mix. Thirdly, the campus itself is stunning, and the facilities are of the highest quality, including the accommodation for its students. The beautiful university city of Oxford has always been a favorite of students wanting to do summer courses, and the Headington School is one of the most important private boarding schools in the city, as well as in the UK itself. Two full day excursions per week, airport transfers, insurance, and a high staff-to-student ratio complete this package, making it an excellent value for parents.”