Orwell Park

Orwell Park School

Age: 7-13 years old.

Dates, 2026:
July 6–12, July 12–18, July 18–24.

Orwell Park - is a preparatory & boarding school founded in 1868. The school is located in Suffolk, just an hour by train from London. It occupies over 110 acres of beautiful woodland overlooking the estuary.

The main school is housed in a unique mansion with its own observatory and clock tower. The classrooms and facilities at Orwell Park are said to be some of the most beautiful in England.

The summer programme at the school is English classes in the mornings + activities, workshops and exciting trips in the afternoons. Classes are held together with local children – Orwell Park School students.

Key factors

• Small classes (maximum 12 students).
• This course is for children of all levels of English, from beginners to fluent.
• Children can take part in workshops and pursue their hobbies alongside their studies: sailing, shooting, tennis, performing arts.
• During activities, workshops and excursions, children will be fully integrated with the regular Orwell Park School students, providing an ideal opportunity to continue to practice their English in a relaxed, friendly environment.
• Every week the school runs excursions, children will visit beautiful cities (Cambridge and London), beaches, water parks and other interesting attractions, such as the studio where Harry Potter was filmed.
• At school There are restrictions on the use of mobile phones. Students are welcome to bring their own phone but must hand it in on arrival (phones are kept in a locked cabinet). Children will be able to make calls and send messages for a limited time each day via the school's secure, filtered Wi-Fi (websites are restricted). Mobile phones are also allowed on some excursions.
• The school is very safe: the buildings are guarded. The school is located in a safe, rural area. Children have access to a team of staff 24 hours a day to help with any questions they may have.

Facilities

5 tennis courts, 2 outdoor all-weather sports pitches, an observatory with a working Victorian telescope, a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, a 9-hole golf course, a large sports hall, 3 squash courts, a design and technology workshop, an art studio, a performing arts studio, and science labs.

Programme

The Summer School caters for children of all levels of English, from complete beginners to fluent speakers. All children take a placement test before starting their course, allowing them to learn at their own pace.

The core of the course is English language lessons. The EAL (English as a Foreign Language) programme consists of 3 hours of lessons, 5 days a week. The programme focuses on four key areas: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Small classes, one-to-one tuition and experienced teaching ensure that your child makes rapid progress each week. The programme also includes lessons on British culture. Pupils are supported in preparing presentations and developing their debating skills.

Accommodation and peting

Accommodation is in the on-site residence. The residence has been recently refurbished and children live in a historic 18th century mansion, with boys and girls on separate floors. All rooms are very light, with high ceilings, modern comfortable beds and stunning views over the park and estuary. Children live in rooms of 4-10 people, with most rooms being for 6 or 8 children of the same age. The residence has two cozy common rooms with board games, chess, TV, a games room and a large library.

There is a dining room on the ground floor. Meals are served three times a day, all food is freshly prepared, the school has a wonderful team of cooks and service staff. If the child has allergies or certain dietary requirements, this will be taken into account in the menu.

Extra activities

After lunch, the school offers a variety of interesting activities for everyone:

• Arts and crafts in a large art studio.
• Wildlife survival skills (bushcraft) in the large forest next to the school.
• Building a tall tower from a box
• Golf and footgolf on a beautiful 9-hole golf course.
• Multi-sports (including cricket, badminton, basketball, squash and football).
• Swimming in a magnificent outdoor pool.
  And much more.

Workshops

The school offers students a choice of 4 additional workshops after lunch. All are led by professional coaches, teachers or instructors. The cost of one workshop is – £150 per week. Children of any level of initial training and experience are welcome to enroll. The workshops are not compulsory and children can instead take part in the activity programme which is included in the course price.

Sailing

Run in partnership with the East Anglia Sea School based at nearby Levington Marina. Specialist instructors will take children to a floating pontoon on the River Orwell where they will work with their instructor to learn the ropes of sailing. The course is ideal for small groups and allows less experienced children to learn in a completely safe environment. The course consists of 2 x 2 hour lessons per week. All equipment is provided including life jackets.

Shooting

Minimum age to participate is - 8 years old.

The shooting workshop is run by an accredited instructor with the British Shooting and Conservation Association. He also runs regular sessions at Orwell Park School throughout the school year. Clay target shooting offers additional practice in following instructions in English (listening comprehension). It also develops self-discipline and control, co-ordination, patience and self-awareness. The programme consists of 2 x 2 hour sessions per week. All equipment provided: 20-bore guns, traps, ammunition and goggles.

Tennis

Orwell Park School has ideal conditions for classes in this popular sport: 5 tennis courts and a team of professional coaches working here all year round.

The course is led by a senior coach from Ipswich Sports Club, who works with children of all levels: from beginners to national level players. During the masterclasses, children will develop all aspects of the game, and in parallel with exercises and classes, games and matches will be held. The program includes 3 classes of 2 hours per week. Balls and rackets are provided, but students are welcome to bring their own rackets.

Golf

Orwell Park is home to a stunning 9-hole golf course reaching across the whole 110 acre park, for this reason, golf is a popular sport for pupils at the School. This Masterclass will be led by Cai James, Pro-Golf Coach at Ipswich Golf Club. Cai works with all abilities, from beginners to experienced players. All aspects of the game will be developed in these Masterclasses. 3 x 2-hour sessions per week. All equipment provided.

Entertainment

In the evenings after dinner, children can enjoy evening activities: swimming, playing quiz, sitting around the fire with roasted marshmallows and chatting with new friends, playing capture the flag, watching films, and a disco. These activities not only bring all the students together in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, but also help them practice English in a real-life setting.

Excursions

Each week, Orwell Park students can enjoy two trips: one full-day and one half-day, after morning classes. The school has a range of exciting places to visit, allowing children to experience British culture, history and summer fun.

Full day excursions:

Week 1: Cambridge. The school is just over an hour from the beautiful world-famous university city of Cambridge. Children can enjoy boating on the River Cam, visiting historic colleges and museums, admiring the magnificent architecture and even finding time for souvenir shopping. This is always a popular trip to one of the most “English” cities.

Week 2: Harry Potter Studio Trip. Attend an official tour of Warner Bros. Studios – aboutA must-see for any fan of the world-famous Harry Potter book and film series. The trip includes a studio tour, as well as a “green screen experience” where kids become actors in the film!

Week 3: London. No trip to the UK would be complete without a tour of one of the most popular capitals on the planet. Kids will visit the most iconic sights, including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye. There will be time for souvenir shopping, and this excursion is sure to be a highlight of the summer.

Half-day excursions:

Week 1: Curve’s Waterpark. This is a huge inflatable obstacle course on a picturesque lake. The program includes slides, trampolines, balancing beams and much more! You can also go kayaking on the lake or just sit back and relax.

Week 2: Frinton Beach. This is one of the most popular beaches on the east coast of England, with colourful beach huts and a long coastal promenade. The wide expanse of sand at low tide is ideal for beach games, and eating a delicious ice cream is the very essence of a British summer holiday.

Week 3: Felixstowe Beach. The school is just 15 minutes' drive from this popular beach. In addition to the usual seaside fun, the pier has a large games room and some of the tastiest fish and chips on earth!

Timetable

8:00 - Breakfast
8:45 - Lesson
9:45 – Break
10:00 – Lesson
11:00 – Break
11:15 – Lesson
12:15 – Lunch
13:15 – Master class/Activities
15:15 – Snack
16:00 – Master class/Activities
18:00 – Dinner
19:00 – Rest
19:30 – Evening activities
20:30 – Holidays in houses

Cost, 2026

£1,650 per week.

Included in the price

• Training
• Accommodation and meals
• All activities and excursions
• Transfers from and to the airport

Additional payment

• Master classes – £200 for 1 master class per week
• Flight
• Visa
• Insurance
• Educational company services