News

All of the students we chatted to have taken part in the past 5 summer schools here at Whitgift! Here they share their thoughts and expeirences on what it's like to be a student host!

Jonathan (Whitgift)

"When I say I can’t meet over the summer to my friends and explain that it is because I am going to summer school they think I'm an idiot for my choice of wasting my summer. But, it is just because they don't understand what it really is. It isn't just more 'boring old lessons'. Instead it’s an experience of a lifetime to meet people for all around the globe. I have made friends from South Korea to Spain. Some of those friends I'm still in contact with, and others have actually come to visit me in London. You can go from 1 to 6 weeks. To put it short, it is a camp for you to play sporting activities and help international students to develop their English. I absolutely adore these camps not because I'm wasting my summer but because I get to meet people from all different cultures, and as they develop their English, I develop my knowledge of their country. From laser tag in the sports hall to capture the flag around the entire school grounds, the activities are exhilarating and enjoyable. These are the reasons I decided to go to summer school.”

 

Emily (Old Palace)

I’ve been to Whitgift Summer School for the past 5 years and I have to say it is the most amazing part of my summer. It’s full of very interesting project lessons with great presentations at the end of each week, fun afternoon and evening activities run by really nice and enthusiastic activity leaders and incredible international students that become your friends for life. From my personal experience, every year has got better and better. My confidence has improved so much thanks to summer school because I have interacted with so many people from all over the world, and by being a student host I’ve had the opportunity to lead group work and ensure that each individual makes the most of their summer school experience. Every year the activities team provide extremely memorable and entertaining activities. Over the year some of my favourites have to be Laser Tag, Inflatable Course, Campfire, Bin Bag Fashion Show and JustDance. I also think the house system is an amazing idea because it keeps everyone motivated and eager to earn house points in order to win the Crispy Creme House Cup. I would definitely recommend Whitgift Summer School because the bond between everyone is like family. At first when people arrive, they are sometimes shy and don’t like to speak to anyone but within a couple of weeks they’ve made a huge number of friends and their confidence has improved so much. By the end of summer school everyone hates saying goodbye to each other and they wish it could continue for longer. I can’t wait to do summer school next year and meet loads of new international students as well as hopefully see some of the returning ones from this year.”

 

Myah (Old Palace)

“Whitgift Summer School has been the best addition to my summer holidays in the past 5 years. Completing projects, taking part in activities and competing in house competitions allows us to form lifelong relationships with people all around the world. Also, being able to help students to enhance their English skills is truly rewarding which makes me want to return each year. Even though the main priority of the Summer School is to allow the students to enhance their English skills, I found that I have developed my confidence, cultural awareness and communication skills over time. This is due to having the responsibility to make the international students feel welcome and comfortable in the new environment and to lead group work in English in Action lessons. My favourite project was to design an escape room as some groups made them very scary. I am still in contact with students who came in 2014 up to 2019 and I could not feel luckier to have formed such strong relationships.

The memories I have made at Summer School mainly revolve around the well organised and fun evening activities. My favourites include the talent show, the egg protector, capture the flag and and the inflatable course. Some of these are house competitions which allow us to collect house points in order to win the Krispy Kreme house cup at the end of the week. The winner is announced at the graduation on Friday which allows us to commend the students on their achievements and watch a video of some moments in summer school.This is probably my least favourite part of the week as it means that I have to say goodbye to the amazing people that I have met over the weeks. I would recommend Whitgift Summer School to Whitgift and Old Palace students as it has helped me to grow as a person and to form close bonds with students and teachers. A summer spent at summer school is a summer unforgotten.”

Daniel (Whitgift)

"Over the last five years, the Whitgift summer school has definitely become an essential part of my summer. The school has hugely improved my own confidence in meeting new people, as well as my cultural awareness, and has also, crucially, improved too the confidence of hundreds of students from across the globe, to speak English, no matter their level on paper. For me too, meeting and speaking with people from around the world is something I thoroughly enjoy, and I think it is this that has brought me back every year.

It would be almost impossible to pick out a single favourite evening activity – from art competitions to obstacle courses, I have so many memories of so many great events. However, the iconic and slightly absurd “egg protector” challenge remains to me a much-loved event, though, in five years, I have never completed it successfully!

I have undoubtedly made lifelong friends from various countries: many return to the summer school in following years, in part to see familiar faces again. It is also amazing to see international students who are now studying in the UK full time. I am excited to see Elvis, a previous international student from China, who is coming to study at Whitgift, this September.

As someone who has been a part of all 5 years so far, I have seen the Summer School develop and grow in both scale and ambition, as more activities and class projects are added each year, but the philosophy of the school has remained the same – the school has always been welcoming and friendly to all students. I really hope I can continue to be a part of it in the future!"

Omari (Whitgift)

"I think that participating in summer school is a great way to use the Summer holiday, because as well as going on holiday or doing work, one can also work on their confidence and be able to interact with other students from around the world. The reason why I like to do summer school every year is the satisfaction from having a good time with international students and being able to stand up and present work. Often i didn't feel as confident and comfortable standing and speaking about a project. However, summer school not only has helped international students with their confidence, but also host students. Over the past 5 years I have done summer school I have made many friends who to this day still keep in contact with. If I had to choose one of the most memorable moments, it would have to be the egg protector challenge back in 2015 (between year 6 and 7) when our house's egg was still in tact after numerous impacts. Honestly I think that everyone who does summer school would thoroughly enjoy every day including the evening additionally as one progresses through the school years, the international students you work with will be your age, which means that in English in action classes you work with international students in different skills, more business and presentation based. Summer school for me has been something that I'll never forget, and I hope to participate again next year. All of the activity leaders and everyone who helps organize it are extremely friendly and helpful and make nice environment. Old Palace and Whitgift students should definitely consider applying for Summer School especially if they are fairly new to Whitgift. Not only will it increase your social and communication skills, you can genuinely have a great time.”

EmilyS (Old Palace)

"Thanks to Whitgift Summer School, I now have friends from all round the world. I have attended the summer school for the past five years and it never fails to broaden my horizons and inspire me. It has also taught me important life skills, and has enhanced my ability to understand people who speak English as a second language, which often comes in very handy. The summer school presents an opportunity to meet and socialise with groups of people from various and diverse backgrounds, as well as gain an understanding of different cultures and mindsets. But apart from that, it’s just really fun!! All the activities are really enjoyable; from musical theatre academy to football, the egg protector challenge to capture the flag, you’re never bored for a moment! Each week, you work with the international students on a project that is presented to the rest of the school on Friday. Recent projects have included making a dream house, a dragons-den style invention competition and even designing, making and modelling the ultimate school uniform. Also, the weekly activities are wide-ranging and all a lot of fun!! Last year I cooked bread on a stick over a campfire in the copse, as well as performing a rendition of ‘No One Mourns the Wicked’ in the graduation assembly as part of Musical Theatre Academy, complete with lights and a mini orchestra. All in all, being a student host is a wonderful and enlightening experience and is always a highlight of my summer!’I have been going to summer school for the past five years now, and it’s safe to say that going to summer school has become a vital part of my summer, maybe even the highlight of it." 

 

Aminah (Old Palace)

"I love coming back, and seeing all my friends from the previous year, but I also look forward to making some new ones. I have made many great friends over the years and have managed to stay in touch with them over the course of the year.  I apply every year, simply because it is fun. It is such a great environment, the staff are great, and the activities that are set up create such a fun atmosphere, and really helps the international students and the student hosts to have an amazing time together. It’s also been great to see how summer school has developed over the years, and how traditions have come to pass, like the egg protector challenge, capture the flag, the barbecue and disco as well as the highly coveted Krispy Kreme house cup. 

Coming to summer school has definitely improved my people skills, I now feel much more comfortable talking to new people, and it has improved my confidence a lot. It has also helped me with my teamwork and my communication skills, due to the projects in English in action lessons, where we work in teams with the international students. I have learned to be both productive, but to also have fun in the lessons. I really do recommend applying to summer school, it is such a valuable experience. Not only does it give you something useful to do in the summer, but it is also an incredibly enjoyable experience, that teaches you many important life skills."

 

~When we study together, we learn together, we work together and we prosper together~

Barack Obama