News

It's been four weeks since we welcomed our first international students to Whitgift Summer School. In this time, we've hosted students from over 30 countries. Some arrived with their siblings, some came alone, and some are returning students who have attended 2-3 times before. Regardless of whether it's their first or multiple visits, all of these students have become friends within just a few hours or days. We are also happy to share the results from over 120 student leavers (and counting!) that 97% of the international students enjoyed their time at Whitgift Summer School!

Today, I'd like to share some key aspects of Whitgift Summer School that parents and students may not fully realize until they arrive: our daily schedule and phone policy. Understanding these will help explain why your child(ren) haven't been in touch much—they have a packed day full of fun activities each and every day they are with us!

Daily Schedule

Here's how a typical day unfolds for our international students:

8:20 AM - Breakfast: Students gather in the dining hall for a hearty breakfast, with a wide range of fresh food to start their day.

9:00 AM - First Lesson: Students enrolled in the Intensive General English Course are grouped with peers of similar age and English proficiency, with a maximum of 12 students per class. Those in the Pre-IB and Pre-IGCSE programs attend their respective lessons with their cohort.

11:30 AM - British Culture Class: All students participate in classes where they learn about British history, culture, and fascinating facts they may not have known before. Pre-IGCSE and Pre-IB students continue with their third lesson of the day.

Afternoon and Evening Activities

12:30-1:30PM- Lunch break: First opportunity to see the Student Hosts while enjoy a variety of healthy food options from different cuisines. 

1:30 PM - Progressive Skills in Action (PSiA): Our Student Hosts join the summer school, collaborating with international students on different projects each week until 3:45 PM.

3:45 PM: Free time: students have a chance to take a break, call home, relax in the boarding house and prepare for afternoon activities.

4:30 PM - Afternoon Activities: Students engage in a variety of activities until 6:00 PM, continuing to bond with their peers.

6:45 PM - Dinner: A chance for students to gather with their house team, strengthening their bonds and working together to earn more house points of the week!

7:30 PM - Evening Activities: The fun continues with a variety of activities and games until 9:30 PM.

9:30 PM – Free time: Students have a break from 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM to use their phones and relax with friends before lights out.

I hope this gives you a good overview of our daily schedule and the unique feat. 

Phone Policies at Whitgift Summer School

Now, let’s discuss our new phone policies, which have been highly effective this year. When do we allow students to have their phones?

• Overnight Lock-Up: Phones are locked away overnight after 10:30 PM and are unlocked again at 3:45 PM.
• Usage Restrictions: Students are not allowed to use their phones during dinner, afternoon activities, and evening activities on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
• Excursion Days: On excursion days, such as Wednesdays and weekends, students are allowed to have their phones from the time they wake up. However, they still cannot use them in the dining hall, during lessons, or during supervised activities.

While parents support us on this phone policy, some students initially were maybe surprised at our policy! However, and interestingly, many students completely forgot about their phones or contacting their parents after a few days. This has led to numerous emails from parents wondering how their children are doing.

We have found that these rules encourage students to engage with each other more, making it easier for them to make friends, speak more English, and fully enjoy their time here at Whitgift Summer School.

We hope this gives you a better understanding of why your child(ren) might not have contacted you frequently—they are fully immersed in a dynamic and enriching environment, building friendships, and creating lasting memories.