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Activities
Accommodations
Excursions
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13-15 years old
2 weeks
Weekly hours: 20
Choose your preferred session from the options below and submit your details in order to complete your booking.
June - Day
Start | 6/28/2026 |
End | 7/11/2026 |
Duration | 2 Weeks |
Price | £5,995 |
June - Boarding
Start | 6/28/2026 |
End | 7/11/2026 |
Duration | 2 Weeks |
Price | £7,495 |
July - Day
Start | 7/12/2026 |
End | 7/25/2026 |
Duration | 2 Weeks |
Price | £5,995 |
July - Boarding
Start | 7/12/2026 |
End | 7/25/2026 |
Duration | 2 Weeks |
Price | £7,495 |
July - Day
Start | 7/26/2026 |
End | 8/8/2026 |
Duration | 2 Weeks |
Price | £5,995 |
July - Boarding
Start | 7/26/2026 |
End | 8/8/2026 |
Duration | 2 Weeks |
Price | £7,495 |
📍 Cambridge & Oxford Colleges | Ages 13–15
The Pre-College Creative Writing Summer Program is an award-winning academic summer school designed to expand your creativity, critical thinking, and writing skills while living in the historic colleges of Cambridge or Oxford. Over two weeks, you’ll study 30 hours of academic sessions, work on a Personal Project, and experience university-style learning in a supportive and inspiring environment.
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Combines creativity with precision, exploring the fundamentals of writing and literary expression.
Builds confidence through independent and group work.
Encourages you to develop practical skills in creating, editing, and sharing original writing.
Personal Project: write either a portfolio of creative works or a novella, presented on the final day. You’ll receive written and verbal feedback from your tutor, which is included in your final assessment.
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Overcome the fear of starting a creative project.
Use warm-up exercises, quick assignments, and inspiration from other writers.
Build memorable characters that live beyond the page.
Create CVs, family trees, and map relationship networks to shape conflict.
Develop tension points, turning points, and plot twists.
Connect plot with dialogue and character development.
Write and refine your portfolio or novella.
Present a short written piece for tutor and peer feedback.
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13 nights in a central Cambridge or Oxford college.
🏰 Historic buildings, central locations, unique character (many over 500 years old; no air conditioning).
🛏 Bedrooms:
Single occupancy (some twin rooms possible).
Shared bathrooms (1 per 4 students), gender-separated corridors.
Limited ensuite facilities available for additional needs (ensuite corridors may be mixed-gender).
🍽 Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner included daily in historic dining halls.
📶 Wi-Fi throughout all colleges.
🔒 Secure, lockable rooms; housekeeping access for maintenance.
👫 Requests for siblings/friends to stay near each other considered.
Dietary needs (medical or religious) fully accommodated with advance notice.
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Experience Formal Hall twice during your stay — a traditional candlelit dinner in a Cambridge/Oxford college dining hall.
✨ A highlight of the programme where students dress up and dine in elegant surroundings.
👔 So remember to bring some smart clothes for these occasions!
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A diverse social programme led by friendly mentors, including:
🚣 Punting on the River Cam
⚽ Zorb football
🎲 Games night
🎥 Movie night
❓ Quiz night
🎤 Talent show
🕵️ Murder mystery evening
🏏 Croquet on college lawns
Activities help students build friendships with peers from around the world.
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🌟 Day trip to Oxford with guided tours.
🏙 Optional day trip to London to see famous landmarks and enjoy shopping.
🍰 Students who opt out of London are invited to afternoon tea in Cambridge.
***
🕑 Arrival: Sunday between 2–5 pm (rooms ready by 3 pm). Registration and accommodation showings upon arrival.
🚐 Heathrow Transfers: Shared, chaperoned service (£180 each way):
Departures on arrival Sunday: 11:00, 14:00, 17:00.
Return transfers on final Saturday: 07:00 & 12:00.
Pastoral team available at all Heathrow terminals.
📦 Alternative arrival arrangements supported — details provided in the Welcome Pack.
***
🏛 13 nights in a Cambridge or Oxford college.
🍴 Breakfast, lunch & dinner daily.
📚 30 hours of academic sessions.
📖 Carefully designed study & lecture materials.
👩🏫 Mentor programme & access to support resources.
🎉 Full social activity programme.
🚌 2 excursions (Oxford + London/afternoon tea).
🍽 2 Formal Dinners (bring smart clothes!).
🧾 Comprehensive summer school insurance.
🎓 Graduation ceremony + certificate.
📝 Detailed tutor evaluation.
📔 Notebook & pen.
📸 Mentor family photograph.
***
We recommend ~£80 per week for souvenirs and personal expenses. Banks and ATMs are available throughout Cambridge, and Visa/Mastercard widely accepted.
Activities
Accommodations
College allocation based on dates and subject choice, assigned a few weeks before arrival.
All colleges are central, historical, with unique culture and character.
Accommodations designed for study, not luxury; many buildings over 500 years old, no air conditioning.
Accommodation requests for friends/siblings considered where possible.
Separate male and female accommodations in each college; wi-fi available throughout.
Single or twin occupancy rooms with shared bathrooms (one per four participants); some ensuite facilities available, prioritized for additional needs.
Mixed-gender corridors for ensuite facilities; gender-separated corridors for shared bathrooms.
Welcome Pack includes possible college details for program dates.
Rooms secured with locks, housekeeping access for maintenance.
Breakfast and dinner included on campus
Host venues accommodate all dietary requirements, special attention to religious observances and medical needs (Please let us know if you need to follow any particular religious observances or have any medical requirements that we need to know about.)
As a student, you will experience formal dinner three times during your stay: once per week in Cambridge and at an Oxford University college on the excursion day, making formal hall a memorable occasion, so remember to bring some smart clothes!
Excursions
Transportation
Arrival Time: Participants should arrive between 2 pm and 5 pm on the first Sunday of the program, with registration and accommodation showings upon arrival (accommodation ready by 3 pm).
London Heathrow Airport Transfers: Shared airport transfer service available from Heathrow Terminal 3 directly to Cambridge/Oxford colleges. Pastoral team to meet participants at any Heathrow terminal and escort to Terminal 3.
Transfer departures at 11:00, 14:00, and 17:00 on arrival Sunday; return transfers to London Heathrow Airport depart at 07:00 and 12:00 on the final Saturday.
Transfer Fee: Available for booking post-enrollment at £180 each way.
Detailed information is provided closer to the program date, including contact numbers.
Alternative Arrivals: For those arriving at different airports or by other means, details are in the Welcome Pack sent after enrolment confirmation.
Lesson Plan
Module 1: The Blank Page
Module 2: Character Creation
Module 3: Plot Mapping
Module 4: Written Portfolio
Sample Tutors
George M:
Lecturer in Medieval English at St Anne's College and St Hilda's College, Oxford
BA in English Literature from Durham University
MSt in English (650-1550) from Mansfield College, Oxford
DPhil (PhD) from St Anne’s College, Oxford
Doctoral thesis on anger in Old Norse-Icelandic Íslendingasögur (Sagas of Icelanders)
Abi Oyepitan - Former Olympian: A two-time Olympian and Commonwealth Gold and Silver winning track and field athlete.
Dr Lynda Shaw - Neuroscientist & entrepreneur: A journey in personal development - how to create your own set of tools to fast track success
Dr Nigel Warburton - Philosopher, author & journalist: How do great people find answers to deep and meaningful questions?
Extras
Transfer Fee: £180 each way.
Pocket Money Advice: Money we recommend that participants bring £80 per week to cover any souvenirs that they may wish to purchase. Various banks and ATMs are available throughout Cambridge, and Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted.
Security
This program is accredited by British Accreditation Council (BAC)
Meets global standards for academic provision and student welfare
Top priority for participant safety
Staff undergo enhanced background checks and safeguarding training
Participants assigned to a “Mentor Family” of 10 students
Mentors offer support, advice, and share their experiences
School management and supervision is managed by senior, experienced College Managers in Cambridge, Oxford, London, and Sydney
College Managers trained to Level 3 Safeguarding standards
Resident summer team and college personnel supervise sites 24/7
Encourage student independence within safe boundaries
Team supervision ensures safe and rewarding experience
Requirements
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