News

Activities

With another week of glorious sunshine, plenty of smiles, and lots of new friendships forming, our students threw themselves into every opportunity to try something new, learn new skills, and make the most of their final days with us.

Our afternoon activities remained as popular as ever, with students enjoying a huge range of sports, creative sessions, and skill-based activities. It was especially rewarding to see so many students stepping outside their comfort zones, growing in confidence, and supporting one another throughout the week.

Our specialist Academy programme continued to be a real highlight. Students benefited from expert coaching in Horse Riding, Fencing, Basketball, and Tennis, developing their abilities while learning from experienced professionals. A huge thank you goes to all of our Academy coaches this summer. Their enthusiasm, expertise, and encouragement have helped students improve their skills, discover new interests, and create memories that will stay with them long after summer school has ended.

The evening programme certainly lived up to expectations too.

One of the week's biggest highlights was The Ultimate House Competition, where students battled it out in a series of games and challenges to earn points for their houses. The atmosphere was brilliant, with plenty of cheering, friendly rivalry, and team spirit on display from start to finish.

We also hosted an unforgettable Murder Mystery Night, where students were tasked with solving the suspicious "murder" of our very own Course Director, Robbie. The main suspects were a group of Activity Leaders who fully committed to their questionable characters for the evening. Students worked together to gather clues, question suspects, and piece together the evidence before finally cracking the case. It was a hugely entertaining evening and one that will be remembered for years to come.

Our excursions gave students the chance to experience some of the very best attractions the UK has to offer. A trip into London allowed students to explore some of the capital's most famous landmarks while soaking up its history, culture, and unique atmosphere. It was a wonderful opportunity for students and staff alike to enjoy one final adventure in the city before the summer drew to a close.

To round off our excursions in style, we headed to Chessington World of Adventures, where students spent the day enjoying rollercoasters, rides, and attractions alongside the friends they have made throughout the summer.

Of course, no week would be complete without the latest chapter in the Krispy Kreme Cup. With house pride, bragging rights, and the famous trophy on the line, the competition was as fierce as ever.

And the winners are...

Drum roll, please...

HOUSE TURING!

A superb performance from beginning to end and a thoroughly deserved victory. Congratulations to House Turing. Enjoy those Krispy Kremes!

As Whitgift Summer School 2026 comes to an end, we look back with a huge sense of pride and gratitude. It has been an incredible summer filled with laughter, friendship, personal growth, and unforgettable experiences.

From everyone in the Activities Department, thank you to every student who has been part of this journey. Your enthusiasm, energy, and willingness to embrace new experiences are what make Whitgift Summer School such a special place.

We wish you every success in the future and hope you leave with wonderful memories, lasting friendships, and the confidence to take on new challenges wherever they may lead.

Welfare

The final week of Summer School arrived in Founders House, but the dwindling number of nights left together did nothing to dampen the students’ spirits.
Over the summer, we have been lucky enough to experience the culinary talents of our students from Italy, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. This week, we closed out the Whitgift Global Grub Club with a classic American dish: mac ’n’ cheese. It was a hit! We always love getting a glimpse of our students’ favourite dishes from home.
More than just cooking talents were on display this week in Founders House. Karaoke quickly became a favourite house activity, and the sounds of ABBA and Disney classics could be heard across the boarding house as our students sang their hearts out.
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. As the week drew to a close, students had to say goodbye to their new friends. Whether their stay was short and sweet or they were here from start to finish, it was time to say goodbye. Founders House will miss everyone who passed through its doors, and we hope to see many of them return next year to do it all again.

Academic

The final week of Whitgift Summer School has been absolutely outstanding, marking a truly magnificent conclusion to our academic programme. Our international learners maintained exceptional momentum, pairing highly tailored morning tutor tuition with an ambitious, whole-school afternoon project: developing a comprehensive drama production entirely from scratch. Working collaboratively, students threw themselves into crafting complex plots, writing original scripts, designing detailed scenes, and managing stage props, all culminating in a spectacular live performance on a big stage. This deeply immersive process created vital contextualised episodes that aided massively in mastering the fluency of the English language. By applying their skills to real-world performance, we observed vastly improved oral communicative attributes across the board, serving as the definitive highlight of an incredibly meaningful Summer School.