Dicker Centre (Bede's) Spring Programme

Bede's Summer School

Age: 12–17 years old. p>

Dates, 2026:
22–28 March, 29 March–4 April, 5–11 April. p>

The educational company Bede's Summer School was founded in 1993 and organises summer courses in the United Kingdom. The company has five centres where summer educational programmes are held. Every year, children from different countries around the world come here. According to EL Gazette, Bede's Summer School is one of the best on the market. All of the company's training centres are accredited by the British Council.

One of the centres, Dicker, is located in the south of England, in a small village in the middle of a national park, surrounded by picturesque countryside.

As part of the spring course, students will attend English lessons, play sports, and participate in activities and excursions. Additionally, they can take horse riding or tennis lessons with a professional coach.

Course objectives:

• Improve English language skills.
• Gain confidence and speak English more fluently.
• Gain a better understanding of the British way of life.
• Motivate students to continue learning English after completing the course at Bede's.

Key factors

• The two-week course includes 22.5 hours of lessons per week.
• Lessons focus on improving general language skills: grammar and vocabulary, with an emphasis on communication, developing fluency and building confidence.
• The course is open to students with an English level of A2 and above.
• The ratio of camp staff to students is 1:5. Maximum attention is given to each child.
• The summer camp has a capacity of 70 people.

Facilities

• Art studios
• Cricket pitches
• Dance studios
• Theatre
• Football pitches
• Gym
• Indoor swimming pool
• Computer room
• Music studios
• Sports hall
• Squash courts
• Tennis courts
• Zoo

Programme

The programme consists of three modules:

1. English language basics

The lessons are aimed at developing general language skills, expanding vocabulary and deepening understanding of grammar, as well as improving accuracy and confidence in speaking and writing.

Objectives:

• Improve basic English language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing.
• Deepen understanding of grammatical structures.
• Develop confidence in using English in different situations.
• Improve pronunciation.

2. Deepening knowledge

Students continue to improve their language skills while deepening their cultural understanding of the places they visit during excursions. They use real materials such as leaflets, advertisements and articles to develop their English language comprehension skills in real-life situations.

Objectives:

• Prepare students to get the most out of their excursions.
• To expand knowledge of the cultural characteristics of Great Britain.
• To introduce authentic learning materials (brochures, magazines, advertisements, films, television).
• To continue developing basic English language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing.

3. Research project

Students conduct research on the topic of the week or a topic that interests them, and then present their findings in the form of a presentation, play, song, commercial or art exhibition. The aim of the research project lessons is to develop students' teamwork skills and improve their oral and interpersonal communication skills.

Research projects have an element of competition and fun, and each student in the winning class receives recognition for their contribution and a small prize.

Objectives:

• Improve negotiation and decision-making skills.
• Develop research, planning and organisational skills.
• Encourage active student participation in group work, promoting teamwork skills.
• Improve students' ability to process information from various sources in English.
• Develop fluency in English.

Accommodation and meals

Dickie Campus offers accommodation in five modern residential houses. Each house has common rooms where children can relax after an active day and socialise with new friends. Most rooms are designed for 2-4 people, with shared bathrooms. Some houses have single and double rooms with private bathrooms.

Students share rooms with children of approximately the same age and from other countries, which helps them to speak only English. Bede's staff live in the same houses as the students. They are available at any time, even in the middle of the night, to resolve any issues.

There is Wi-Fi on campus. The Village Shop is open at certain times, where you can buy drinks and snacks.

Three meals a day are provided: a healthy and nutritious breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, which are served in the dining room. Morning and evening snacks are also available (fruit, cakes, mini sandwiches, juice, milk). Students who choose the non-residential programme can have a morning snack and lunch at the school. Children are offered English and international cuisine, and there is a vegetarian menu. Various dietary requirements are taken into account.

Additional activities

After class, all students take part in sports and recreational activities. The school believes that children learn as much outside the classroom as they do inside it. The activity programme plays a key role in this. All students have different interests, and the programmes are designed so that everyone can find something to suit them.

Sports activities: aerobics, badminton, basketball, chess, circuit training, cricket, dance, dodgeball, football, netball, rounders, rugby, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, yoga, Zumba.

Creative activities: theatre, fashion design, modelling, painting, singing, cooking, jewellery making.

Academies

The school offers two academies, which students attend in the afternoon instead of daytime activities. The academy programme is suitable for all levels of ability, from beginners to advanced. Lessons are taught by qualified Bede's coaches or guest sports instructors. Students choose one academy per week.

Horse riding

Horse riding lessons and rides in the surrounding area. Classes are taught by instructors with extensive experience in teaching teenagers of all levels, from experienced riders to those who are trying horse riding for the first time. Students also learn about horse care, grooming and stable management.

Tennis

Children improve their tennis skills and technique. Lessons focus on offensive and defensive play, court positioning and improving playing skills.

Entertainment activities

Evening activities are always a great opportunity for students to socialise in an informal setting and have fun with new friends from different countries. Activities include: disco, karaoke, mini-Olympics, talent show, games, film screenings, and an Easter egg hunt.

Excursions

Excursions are an essential part of the programme. Students visit places of cultural and historical interest, see the sights, go shopping and have fun. There are two full-day excursions at the weekend.

Saturday excursions are trips that include visits to cultural, tourist or entertainment venues in London. These include: the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, the zoo, Madame Tussauds, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, an amusement park, the Tower of London, and Westminster Abbey.

Sunday excursions are more relaxed trips to local seaside towns such as Brighton, Chichester, Eastbourne, Hastings or Worthing. Children will walk on the beach, have lunch in the park or go shopping.

Sample daily schedule

7:30 – Wake up
8:00 – Breakfast
8:45 – School assembly
9:00 – English lesson
10:00 – Break
10:15 – English lesson
11:15 – Break
11:30 – English lesson
12:30 – Lunch
13:30 – Research project
15:00 – Break
15:30 – Activities or Academies
17:00 – Free time/Phone calls home
18:00 – Dinner
19:15 – Evening activities
21:15 – House meeting and free time
22:30 – Lights out

Cost, 2026

£1,350 per week for the residential programme.
£795 per week for the non-residential programme.

Course booking is free of charge.

The price includes

• Tuition
• Accommodation and meals
• All course materials and certificate of completion
• All activities and excursions
• Laundry

Additional charges

• Horse riding - £345 per week
• Tennis - £295 per week
• Airfare
• Visa
• Insurance
• Transfers to and from the airport
• Supervision during your child's stay abroad (optional)

HOW WE DIFFER FROM OTHER COMPANIES

• We have been operating since 1996
• We select camps with a minimum number of Russian speakers 
• We only select camps with good conditions 
• We have personally inspected almost all of the schools we offer 
• We do not work with the mass market, only camps for discerning clients
• Our 24/7 phone line is always available 
• Why our clients value us