Etherton Education

Etherton Education - Trip Days

Age: 12–17 years old.

Dates, 2026:
2–16 August (2 weeks),
2–30 August (4 weeks).

Etherton Education's academic summer courses are designed to provide international students with a comprehensive preparation for studying at UK boarding schools. They are also ideal for those who want to get a taste of what it's like to study at a UK boarding school. British education. Summer courses in 2026 will be held at Wellington School in Somerset.

Etherton Education was founded in 2002. Its founders knew how difficult it was for international students when they first arrived in the UK. They wanted to develop academic courses at an international summer school that would really take good care of students and give them the opportunity to get an education in the UK.

Children starting their education at a British boarding school in September will receive excellent preparation on this course. Afterwards, they will feel more confident and ready to study at a new school.

Children who come to get acquainted with British education and life in a British boarding school will leave not only with an improved academic level of English, but also with invaluable life experience and developed communication skills in English.

This course is a great opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the English language environment, spending 50 hours a week in the company of native speakers, practicing spoken English. It is also a valuable experience of living in a boarding school, getting to know its routine and discipline. This is a real “test drive” of a British boarding school!

Founders and Directors

Peter and Ann Etherton. Both have been teaching English to foreign students for over 40 years. They have strong links with Hong Kong and China and both taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Peter has written over 100 textbooks, including Oxford English. He is a former British Council English Language Specialist and IELTS examiner. Anne has extensive teaching and management experience and is a former Director of an international study centre.

Key factors

• The summer courses are academic in nature, with a strong focus on English for learning. Children study English intensively and other core academic subjects.
• In addition to academic studies, the school focuses on developing “soft skills” each student: self-confidence, teamwork, leadership, communication skills, creativity.
• All courses include an introduction to British sports and extra-curricular activities such as excursions, activities and Sunday clubs.
• The student to staff ratio is 3:1, meaning three students for every member of staff. This allows for almost one-to-one support and guidance.
• All teachers are specialists in their academic subjects and have experience of working with international students.
• Science teachers understand the importance of laboratory work, so students will spend a lot of time doing practical experiments.
• The maximum class size is 16, but usually around 12-13 children. Some lectures and seminars will have larger classes.
• A highlight of the summer courses is rich interaction with native speakers. After lessons, each student can practice their spoken English with a large number of so-called Student Hosts. They work every day after classes and all day when there are no classes) Student Hosts are at the school 50 hours a week, they are kind and friendly. All of them are native English speakers and help to explain British culture, and some of them are usually very good students at top universities themselves. Every day they do sports, have dinner, and in the evenings help the children with homework. They organize many of the school activities and Sunday clubs, and also attend all excursions.

Program

Pre-GCSE Course (12–15 years old)

This course is designed to prepare international students who plan to enrol in a British boarding school in Year 9 or Year 10. The recommended minimum level of English is CEFR B1 / IELTS 4.0.

Students study the following subjects: English, theatre, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, business, art, and preparation for boarding school.

Pre-A-Level / Pre-IB Course (15–17 years old)

This course is designed to prepare international students who plan to enrol in a British boarding school for A-Levels or IB (International Baccalaureate) programmes. The recommended minimum English language level is CEFR B2 / IELTS 5.0.

All students study English and theatre. They then choose 3 to 5 academic subjects from the following list: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, business/economics, art, theory of knowledge, boarding school preparation, advanced mathematics, psychology.

Compulsory subjects for all students

Every day, students of all ages have one 90-minute lesson in English. The lessons include academic English, English for everyday use, grammar and pronunciation. Students will research the place they are going on the excursion to and then write about their impressions. Students have access to a large Extensive Reading library and are all required to read at least one book a week. Outside of class, all students practise speaking English with the school's team of trained native speaking students, who are on site for at least 50 hours a week.

Each week, all students have two 90-minute Drama lessons, and every child takes part in a fun theatre show. Over the years, the school has found that drama really helps many children overcome their fear of performing in English. It increases their confidence in using the language, helps with pronunciation and develops a strong sense of teamwork.

All students have one 90-minute lesson per week in «Preparation for Boarding School». Here, children and staff will discuss topics such as the importance of cultural integration, understanding the history and traditions of British boarding schools, extra-curricular opportunities and how to write a CV.

Accommodation and pandation

Accommodation is a large and important part of the British school experience. Courses are designed to prepare children for this experience and give them a taste of life at a British boarding school.

All pupils live in a residence on the school grounds. Boys and girls are housed separately. Most rooms are doubles, some are quadruples (usually for younger pupils). The residence has cosy sitting rooms with wide-screen TVs and indoor games rooms. The school staff live on site and look after the children.

The school has a wonderful team of staff who help the children adjust to life away from home and at school. Many pupils celebrate their birthdays during the summer course, so birthday parties and cake are a normal part of life at boarding house! The school has a very high level of care and support for the pupils. Friendly native speaking students will also be at the boarding house in the evenings and will be able to interact with the children through conversations, games and fun activities.

Meals are provided three times a day, with meals served in the school canteen. The school provides good quality food, with a choice of main courses and a salad bar. The school provides packed lunches on excursions and trips. If your child has any allergies and/or special dietary requirements, this must be communicated in advance. Please note that the school will not accept children with certain diets (e.g. extreme vegan diets) and additional charges may apply for other diets.

Sport

Sport is a very important part of the Etherton Education summer course. All pupils will take part in sport for an hour every school day. This gives them the opportunity to experience British sports. The aim – to encourage and inspire children to take part in sport in their regular school. Sport is a great way for international students to make friends and integrate into a new environment. The school provides the opportunity to learn the basic rules and vocabulary needed for sport.

With the fantastic facilities at the school, children will have the opportunity to play football, netball, rugby, hockey, basketball, tennis and cricket. There will be a different sport each week and there will also be free time for children to play their favourite sport with their new friends. There is free time in the evenings and on Sundays to take part in a sport of their choice.

Leisure Activities

The school organises leisure activities in the evenings to help children unwind after a long day of study. These include: film screenings, team building games, board games, a fashion show and a business game. These activities help children develop their creativity and team spirit. They are very important for developing their spoken English skills. Pupils are exposed to new situations which require them to be prepared and willing to help their team achieve a task.

The school holds one or more formal dinners where children learn how to behave at formal occasions, they can dress up and have fun with friends. Dinner consists of three courses and staff and pupils are invited to give speeches.

On Sundays there are clubs in the morning and afternoons - trips to local attractions, shopping, cinema or sports. On Sundays, students also have free time to play sports, pursue a hobby, or spend time with their peers.

Sunday Clubs:

• Dog Walking
• Arts for Fun
• Crafts Club
• Church Going
• Jazz Dancing
• Singing
• Zumba
• Cooking
• Yoga
• Board Games
• Photography

The purpose of the clubs is to introduce pupils to a new skill or experience each week.

Excursions

Every Thursday the school organises excursions: to the historic city of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Dartmoor and Oxford, to the Safari Park and Zoo, or to visit aviation and motor museums. On Tuesdays the younger pupils (10-12) have an optional half-day trip: mountain biking, visiting a wildlife park, visiting the beach, learning to rock climb.

Every week the trips are different and always have an educational focus. All transport and entrance fees are included in the price, and pupils receive a packed lunch.

Timetable

8:00 - Breakfast
9:00 - Lesson
10:30 - Break
11:00 – Lesson
12:30 – Lunch
13:30 – Lesson
15:00 – Break
15:15 – Lesson
17:00 – Sports
18:00 – Dinner
19:00 – Homework
20:00 – Evening activities
21:30 (21:00 for younger students 10–12 years old) – Return to home

Cost, 2026

£3,715 for 2 weeks.
£7,200 for 4 weeks

Included in the price

• Training
• Accommodation and meals
• Laundry
• All activities, travel (including entrance fees)
• Transfers to/from Gatwick or Heathrow airports
• Basic insurance

Additionally paid

• Flight
• Visa
• Educational company services

OUR DIFFERENCES FROM OTHER COMPANIES

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

How to choose summer courses