Art & Design Summer Programme at Dukes Cambridge for Ages 14–17

Course Description: Art & Design Summer Programme at Dukes Cambridge for Ages 14–17

🎓 Course Overview

The Faculty of Art & Design uses art, design and visual communication as a route to stronger English. Over two or four weeks in Cambridge, students aged 14–17 study how colour, composition and creative choices convey ideas, and practise discussing, explaining and presenting their own work. The emphasis is on communicating ideas rather than specialist studio or portfolio training, so students of all artistic backgrounds can take part.

Classes are capped at 15 students and taught in small seminar groups, with up to 20 hours of academic content per week. The recommended English level is B1 (intermediate) or above.

📚 Academic Content

Art & Visual Language

Students explore how colour, line, form, composition and style shape visual work, and build the vocabulary to describe, compare and interpret it.

Design & Communication

This module looks at how design decisions affect the way a message is understood. Topics may include posters, branding, illustration, photography and digital media, without technical training.

Creative Development & Presentation

Students develop ideas from creative prompts, refine and present a response, and explain their choices and process in English, including responding to feedback.

Time to Shine Final Project

Individually or in groups, students respond to a creative brief: exploring examples, generating ideas, making creative decisions and presenting their concept at the Time to Shine event at the end of the week. Students also assemble a small portfolio of work to take home.

Fieldwork, Industry Experience & Guest Speakers

Afternoons link the classroom to the real world. Fieldwork days use guided visits and hands-on tasks around Cambridge, while industry-focused sessions connect the subject to careers through creative briefs. Visiting guest speakers with professional experience share their knowledge and answer students' questions.

At the end of the programme every student receives a Certificate of Achievement, a progress report and a personalised letter of recommendation from their tutor.

📍 Campus & Location

The programme is based in Cambridge. Lessons take place at Sancton Wood School, an independent school with specialist science, art and drama facilities, and the historic city centre is within walking distance. Campus facilities include an auditorium, seminar rooms, a modern dining hall, a student common room, a laundry service and Wi-Fi. The programme is independent of, and not affiliated with, the University of Cambridge.

🏫 Accommodation & Meals

Residential students live in purpose-built student accommodation a short walk from the school. Rooms are single or twin, most with en suite bathrooms (some smaller blocks have shared facilities). Blocks such as Tripos Court offer communal social and study areas, kitchenettes and on-site laundry. Residential students are on full board, and dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan and halal are catered for where possible.

Day students follow the same programme from 09:00 to 21:30 each day and return home in the evening. Lunch and the evening meal are included; accommodation and breakfast are not.

🚌 Excursions & Activities

Two full-day excursions are included in each two-week session (these vary by session):

• London: landmarks, museums, cultural sites and shopping.

• Cambridge: a day exploring the city.

Standard excursions, including entry costs, are covered by the fee. On excursions, students may have up to two hours of free time with parental consent, moving in groups of at least three.

Afternoons and evenings bring a full sports and social programme. Activities include arts and crafts, badminton, basketball, board games, circuit training, creative writing, cricket, a film festival, football, karaoke, a murder mystery, museum visits, a photo challenge, picnics in the park, punting, rounders, a silent disco, Taskmaster, a trashion show, volleyball and yoga.

⏰ A Day in the Life

A sample weekday (subject to change):

• 07:30 — Activity: Wake up and breakfast

• 09:00 — Activity: Academic programme in seminar groups of up to 15

• 10:45 — Activity: Time to Shine team project research and work

• 12:15 — Activity: Lunch on campus

• 13:45 — Activity: Fieldwork or industry experience (visits and creative briefs across Cambridge)

• 16:30 — Activity: Free time

• 18:00 — Activity: Dinner, followed by evening assembly

• 19:15 — Activity: Societies or campus evening

2027 Dates & Fees 📅

All sessions run Monday to Monday. Students can choose a two-week or four-week stay.

• 28 June – 12 July — Length: 2 weeks — Residential: £4,995 — Day: £3,995

• 12 July – 26 July — Length: 2 weeks — Residential: £4,995 — Day: £3,995

• 26 July – 9 August — Length: 2 weeks — Residential: £4,995 — Day: £3,995

• 28 June – 26 July — Length: 4 weeks — Residential: £9,990 — Day: £7,990

• 12 July – 9 August — Length: 4 weeks — Residential: £9,990 — Day: £7,990

Optional extras (limited spaces):

• Rowing Academy – £295: training and a session on the River Cam, plus a hoodie.

• Private Oxbridge Applications Consultation – £395: a one-to-one session with a specialist from Oxbridge Applications.

Payment: a non-refundable deposit of £700 per student is due within 48 hours of booking, and the balance is due by 1 May 2027. Bookings made after 1 May 2027 must be paid in full within 48 hours of confirmation. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Flights and airport or train transfers are not included; transfers can be arranged for an additional fee.

✔️ What's Included

Residential: tuition and course materials, accommodation, all meals, weekly laundry, sports and social activities (day and evening), standard excursions with entry costs, Wi-Fi, a UK SIM card, student insurance, a certificate and a progress report.

Day: tuition and course materials, lunch and evening meal, sports and social activities (day and evening), standard excursions with entry costs, Wi-Fi, a UK SIM card, student insurance, a certificate and a progress report.

Not included: flights and airport or train transfers (transfers are available at extra cost) and optional extras.

🛡️ Safety & Welfare

A campus manager is responsible for welfare, safety and pastoral needs, supported by a team of College Mentors who look after students day to day. Pastoral support is available on site 24/7, with a staff-to-student ratio of 1:6. All residential staff are DBS-checked, every member of staff receives safeguarding training, and each site has designated first aiders. Students carry a contact card on excursions. The summer school cites a 2018 British Council inspection with 15 out of 15 areas of strength.

💡 Who This Programme Is For

This programme suits creative students aged 14–17 with at least intermediate (B1) English who enjoy drawing, design, photography or visual media and want to talk about their work with confidence. No specialist art training is needed. It is a good fit for those considering art, design, architecture or media in the future, and for anyone who wants to combine creativity with real progress in English in an inspiring historic city.