Blog

Receiving testimonials from our International Summer School students brings so much joy to our team. This month, we're delighted to present Hiroki, a student from our partner school near Tokyo, Urawa. Hiroki joined us in the summer of 2024 on the Intensive General English Course, and also enjoyed our incredible basketball academy.

"At the time, I did the IB preparation program. I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, from the first day I knew there was something special. The teachers were inspiring, the lessons were exciting, the activities were entertaining and I met amazing people from all over the world. I would say it wasn’t just about studying it was about enhancing our academic capacities in a fun way."

Looking for an exceptional summer school experience for your child? Whitgift Summer School in South London offers top-tier academic and English language programs for students from around the world. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2025, Whitgift provides a unique blend of fun, friendship, and learning. Students from diverse backgrounds come together on a safe and inspiring campus, featuring exotic wildlife like flamingos and peacocks. Perfectly situated for exploring London, Whitgift offers courses in Intensive English, Pre-IB, and Academic Enrichment. Join us at Whitgift Summer School and be part of this incredible journey. Will your child be part of this milestone celebration?

As we bid farewell to over 100 international students in the past five weeks, one letter stood out in our inbox. Slavko from Croatia, who recently completed a two-week stay at Whitgift Summer School, sent us a heartfelt note that truly brightened our day. With his permission, we’re excited to share it with our entire community. Slavko's letter beautifully captures the spirit of his time with us, and it’s a testament to the bonds formed and lessons learned during his stay. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did!

At the end of the second week of Whitgift Summer School, we reflect on the vibrant atmosphere and diverse student body, with 53 students departing and 40 new arrivals expected. This year has set a record with over thirty nationalities represented. The sense of community is strong, fostered by a supportive team and dynamic activities. After nine and a half years, this will be David Bates's final summer school, with John Chisholm taking over. The program, which began in 2015, has evolved with innovative elements and remains a cherished feature of Whitgift. I will miss the excitement, collegiality, and multicultural friendships that define this experience.

Ms Chan is excited to teach the Introduction to IGCSE Science course this summer. Originally from South Africa, she has been teaching Chemistry at Whitgift School in the UK since 2000. She loves making science engaging through practical work and aims to inspire students to pursue science further. Whitgift students work on advanced projects, such as finding a cure for Mycetoma with UCL and Australian universities. She looks forward to meeting her new students and helping them succeed in their Science IGCSEs.

In this post, we hear from Mathilda, a summer school student who spent two summers with us at Whitgift. For her, a summer school is not just about boosting your English language skills – it's about having the time of your life: making new friends while playing sports and getting creative. She explains about her first experiences back in 2022 and how 2023 was even better, due to the friendliness of staff who create a positive and supportive atmosphere for all students. 

Discover an enriching opportunity for your 11 to 13-year-old scholars with our Pre-IGCSE Summer Programme in London! Designed to blend academic rigor with engaging activities, this three-week course prepares students for success in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) curriculum. Ideal for those preparing for boarding school or considering an international educational path, our programme offers specialized weeks in mathematics, English language and literature, and science, alongside exciting excursions and a full activity programme. Explore how this immersive experience fosters academic excellence and personal growth for young learners.

At Whitgift Summer School, we recognize the positive impact that technology can have on the learning experience. We wish to provide a dynamic and forward-thinking Academic Summer School for students on all our courses, be that our Intensive General English Course, Pre-IB or Pre-IGCSE courses. We embrace technology in the classroom when it enhances the student learning experience and are aware that it plays an important part in preparing students for the ever evolving digital age. However, we also recognize the importance of mainting a healthy balance between technology for educational reasons and the temptation to use smartphones to check Tik Tok, Snaptchat, Youtube, Instagram. In this post, we talk about our summer smartphone policy. 
 

Kaloyan, a fantastic Bulgarian student, has kindly written a blog about his experiences at Whitgift Summer School, which he attended in 2023. He enrolled on our popular Intensive General English course for 3 weeks and made the most of everything that the school had to offer. He was described as kind, polite and mature by his teachers and was 1 of only 6 students to receive the prestiguous "Whitgift Award" that is handed to 1 student each week at the summer school. Outside the classroom, he was described as bringing a brilliant and positive attitude to any group he was involved in, making him a joy to have in any activity. In this blog post, Kaloyan tells us of his personal experiences at our popular summer school in London.

Many high-level learners who enroll on summer school programs attend international schools in their home country. These schools are English-medium or bi-lingual with many of them preparing students for IGCSEs or undertaking the MYP. But what happens when students' English stops improving? Mr John Chisholm looks into the issue in this post and has some advice for English language students on what they need to do to improve....

Are you an international student who is considering applying to a UK Boarding School? Why not attend a summer boarding preparation course to see what life at a UK School is like before you take that next step? Whether you need to improve your English or are looking for an academic programme for a particular course of study, many top schools such as Whitgift offer fantastic courses to help students and families learn more about life at a UK Boarding School.

We are delighted to announce that our booking form is now live. Students can book their place on our programme on one of our three courses: Intensive General English, Pre-IGCSE and Pre-IB. Our Intensive General English courses is open to teenagers and younger learners from 11 - 17. For our more subject specific courses, international students can select either our Pre-IGCSE course for students aged 11 - 13 or our Pre-IB course for students aged 14 - 17. With an incredible activity programme that supplements our academic courses, students will have the opportunity to learn, socialise and importantly have fun. This is all combined with a truly unique experience: studying and socialising with English speaking boys and girls from Whitgift School.  

With over 10000 house points won, 300 students in attendance, 138 hours of English language and International Baccalaureate lessons complete, 25 nationalities present, 12 excursions undertaken and 6 House Cups won, it's officialy the end of the final week here at Whitgift Summer School! It's been an amazing summer, full of academic rigour, sporting excellence and creativity. Read on to find out what the students have been up to in the final week! 

Find out what the students got up to in Week 5! In this blog post we look at the half-day excursion to London - always a popular trip for our English Language and Pre-IB students - our talent show, Hockey, Fencing and Horse Riding academies. 

It's the end of Week 4 here at Whitgift Summer School and in this week's blog post, we are focusing on Progressive Skills in Action! In these afternoon project-based lessons, students sharpen their 'human skills'. Collaborative small groups mix international and British students, from Whitgift and Old Palace of John Whitgift Schools. Tailored projects cater to varied age groups, preparing students for the skills they will need to employ when they eventually head to university.

They say that time flies when you are having fun, and it’s quite hard to believe that we are now halfway through the summer school programme here in south London. This week, we are looking at the graduation ceremony and House system...

BBQs, shopping, cricket, inflatable assault courses, St Paul's Cathedral and a rainy day in Canterbury...! Click to read more about Week 2 at the Whitgift International Summer School. 

Welcome all! As we dive into a detailed account of the first full week at Whitgift Summer School, we are delighted to share the experiences the international students have had so far. From intensive lessons to engaging extracurricular activities, it has been a week filled with growth, camaraderie and exploration!

Welcome to the official blog recounting the first day of the highly anticipated Whitgift Summer School in 2023! As students from around the world descended upon Whitgift School, the day was full of energy, enthusiasm and expectation!

In this blog post, we meet our third and final Summer School Manager, Mr Robert Hancock! Robert is the Welfare Manager at the Summer School and is responsible for the safety of all our English Language and Pre-IB students who visit Whitgift in July & August. Robert has lots of experience in the English as a Foreign language sector and is excited about welcoming all the students to our prestigious and exciting summer programme. 

Situated in the south of London, Whitgift School is an idyllic setting for visiting international students who are looking for a motivating, stimulating and dynamic summer experience. In this blog post, we look at our world-class facilities and grounds that the students will be able to benefit from during their stay.

From teaching English to international students to managing a Kung Fu school, Ms Beth Watson is the summer school’s highly experienced Activity Manager. She believes that every student has unique interests and talents and is really looking forward to welcoming our Intensive General English, Pre-IB and also English-Speaking students to the 2023 Summer School here at Whitgift School in South London. 
 

Mr Krammer is a Senior Activity at Whitgift Summer School, German teacher and the Head of Basketball at Whitgift School. Known as “Mr Summer School”, he has been involved in every summer school since 2015. From the very beginning when we started our intensive English programme through to the development of the Pre-IB course, Mr Krammer has seen Whitgift Summer School grow and develop. In this post, he tells us of his journey.

Mr Jordan Lee-Macdonald is a Whitgift Summer School Activity Leader, has an MA from Loughborough University and is finishing his teacher training in Physical Education. A highly experienced sports coach, Mr Lee-Macdonald will ensure that all students will receive top quality coaching and activity sessions during their study holiday with us at Whitgift School. For him, the best thing about Whitgift Summer School is the feeling that staff and students feel part of a vibrant international community. Read on to find out more!  

International Students who attend Whitgift Summer School have the chance to study with English-speaking students from Whitgift Schools. Here, Nifemi and Zach, two Student Hosts, talk about their experiences of studying, socialising and meeting students from all around the world. If you are an international student that is looking for a unique summer school experience with British students, then our incredible programme is for you!

George, one of our returning team members, talks of the strong sense of community at Whitgift Summer School, and other aspects that have brought him back to the role for the Summer of 2023.

Returning to Whitgift Summer School for 2023 is our Director of Studies, Mr Mario Bellu. In this blog Mr Bellu talks about his work history and educational outlook. He's looking forward to welcoming his team and students of the Summer of 2023.

Did you know? Whitgift Summer School is operated by Whitgift School and not by an external provider. This means that every visiting international student has the same outstanding experience that our year-round students have. The standards are high, the professionalism is exemplary and, importantly, visiting students genuinely feel part of the Whitgift community. Whether a student is taking part in our Intensive General English Course or our Pre-IB programme, they will be sure to have a true, authentic summer British Boarding school experience.

With 100s of English Language Courses and Academic Summer Programmes in the UK, how can parents (and students!) make the right choice? If you are parent deciding on a School for your son or daughter, this blog post by Mr Chisholm - our Marketing Manager - will give you some important advice. From accommodation to excursions, types of course to airport transfers, we have you covered!

Do you already have a high-level of English, but are aiming to become more accurate with your Academic English? Perhaps you attend an international or boarding school and really need to improve your English for the next acadmic year? Read our latest post to see how we can help students who want to focus on their language accuracy in essay writing, debating, extended listening, vocabulary and much more...

In this blog post, we look forward to Summer 2023 and take a look at what our English language and Pre-IB students got up to in Summer 2022. 

Ms Jones says that she is looking forward to meeting all the international students and helping them improve their English language skills during their time on our intensive English language course!

Ms Vanessa Cordeiro, one of the English language teachers on our Intensive General English Course tells us about the countries she has taught in and about helping students with their confidence in English. She's looking forward to meeting the students this summer!

Julia's blog explains why the international students will have a fantastic time meeting the English-speaking students at the summer school!

Myah Singh was an English speaking Student Host at Whitgift Summer School when she was at school. This year she is returning to work as an Activity Leader and can't wait to meet the international students who attend our courses from all over the world. 

Graham Wardle is one of our Senior Activity Leaders and helps plan and run our exciting activitiy programme for our international students. He's back for his 3rd summer school in 2022. 

Talking about his English language teaching experience, Mr Duncan says "Of all the places I have worked, Whitgift is the best"! 

Continuing with our 'meet the team' series of blogs, Ms Miranda White, House Parent at Whitgift Summer School takes us on a journey to Peru via Yorkshire and explains why she enjoys being a House Parent!

Back for her fourth summer at Whitgift, Ms Bissessur tells us of her experiences teaching English as a foreign language and why each student's English progresses so quickly at our summer school. 

"One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world". An inspirational quote is used by Ms Etherington as she looks at the power of learning the English language and how she loves to make the learning process a creative one. 

Read Ms English's post on why mixed nationality classrooms are the perfect way to find out about different cultures and improve your English...

Ms Lewis is a highly experienced English Language teacher and has taught junior and teeange learners of English in a varierty of contexts and countries. This will be her fifth summer at Whitgift!

If you are going to a UK English language or academic summer school in 2022, you might want to know what you need to pack…

Mr Mario M Bellu, who will be in-charge of the Academic Team this summer at Whitgift, tells us a bit about his professional experiences and background! 

Meet Miss Letitia Betteridge, the Whitgift Summer School Welfare Manager, who will be responsible for the Boarding House this summer and making sure our students are healthy and happy!

Interested in exotic animals? Do you see yourself as a future vet? Want a learn about animals? Meet Ms Erin Elgarhy, your summer school Animal Care Tutor! 

Year 11 student and ‘student host’ at Whitgift Summer School in 2018 & 2019, Bakari Leon, shares his experiences on the summer school.

In this post we look at a typical day at Whitgift Summer School. 

Mr David Bates, Director of International Education, looks at the importance of mental health and offers some top tips for mainting wellbeing! 

In this post, we look at our International Baccalaureate preparation course, known as the Pre-IB course.  

Here we offer final year IB students some revision tips - it's never too early to start!

Who? What? When? How? Why? Everything you need to know about our Intensive General English Course...

In your final year of the IB Diploma? Looking for a revision course? Whitgift's Director of IB explains what students can expect from our week-long revision programme.

Our Summer School will run from Sunday 10 July - Sunday 21 August. We are really excited to welcome students to Whitgift!

Director of International Education, Mr David Bates writes about Summer 2021 and looks to Summer 2022 when we will welcome students back to our school!

As a new academic year dawns on us all, for final year IBDP students this can only mean one thing: exams in May 2022! Bookings are now open for our IB Revision Course at Whitgift. 

Interested in finding out what learning online is like at Whitgift? Meet Will, a current Whitgift student who offers you an insight into what our summer school students can expect this July. 

Here we look at how learning words in the AWL can help students improve their comprehension when reading academic texts as well as their essay writing.

In this blog post, Mrs Manteaw shares her experiences of online teaching and learning. She also tells us how many continents she has lived on. Read on to find out more...

Meet your IB Maths tutor: Mrs Anne-Marie Lam

Meet your Science IB Tutor! Mr Karl Hudson.

In this post, we look at the 10 key elements of the IB learner profile and how our Pre-IB course can help students begin their journey towards success in the IBDP.

Are you a student who already has a high-level of English and wants to take that next step up? Click here to find out how...

Ms Kenny will be teaching the English Language & Literature aspect of the Pre-IB course this summer. Here she discusses her experiences of the IB Diploma and how enriching and varied the IB Course is for English. 

Hear from Ms Lewis, one of our English Tutors at Whitgift Summer School. 

Do you have questions about the IB Diploma course? Not sure where to start? Read on to find out how our IB preparation course can help you.

Stop the Press! We’re going online! We are pleased to announce that Whitgift Summer School will be going ONLINE in 2021 with three academic courses.

In this blog post, Mr Roberts talks about the house system at Whitgift Summer School and how a certain dougnut has left a legacy...

At Whitgift Summer School, International visitng students have the opportunity to study alongside English speaking students. These students are proudly known as our 'Students Hosts'. In this post, we find out about their experiences!

Whitgift Summer School is superbly located in south London. In this blog, we take a look at how this benefits each student's summer school experience. 

Mr David Bates, Director of International Education at Whitgift School and Course Director of the Whitgift Summer School looks at the theme of Cultural Diversity.