English Language Skills Immersion & Activities Programme in Canterbury

Course Description: English Language Skills Immersion & Activities Programme in Canterbury

🎓 Programme Overview

Founded in 597 AD, The King's School Canterbury is the oldest school in the world. Each summer it opens its historic campus, in the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral, to students aged 8–17 from around the world, alongside British students. The two-week residential programme is designed and taught by King's School teachers together with external specialists, and combines academic study, a specialist academy, sport and full-day excursions to London and beyond.

🗣️ Main Pathway: English Language Skills (24.5 hours over two weeks)

For students who want to improve their English. English teaching runs through every lesson, built around three themes:

• Knowledge-based learning: improve your English while exploring history, sustainability and politics

• Skills-based learning: task-based projects such as running a business, structuring an essay or doing research

• Values-based learning: debates, discussions and presentations that build confidence in spoken English

What your child gains: more fluent, confident English, used in real situations, together with new subject knowledge and friends from many countries.

🧩 Choose a Specialist Academy (14 hours over two weeks)

On top of the main pathway, every student picks one academy. Places are limited, so early booking is recommended:

• Art & Design: painting, drawing and sculpture in hands-on studio sessions

• Business & Entrepreneurship: design and launch your own social enterprise (B2 English or above)

• Music: solo and group work ending in a performance (grade 4 or equivalent on an instrument or voice)

• Sports: swimming, fencing, tennis, football, basketball and more, with professional coaches

• International Relations: globalisation, sustainability, finance and politics, taught by researchers and industry professionals (B2 English or above)

• Foundation in STEM: engineering, physics, chemistry and biology, from robotics to experiments

• Pre-University Preparation (typically ages 15–17): university workshops with lecturers, campus tours and university-style learning

• IELTS Preparation & Exam: a two-week course plus an official IELTS exam at a London test centre (+£350)

🗓️ A Typical Week

• Mornings (Mon–Thu): the English Language Skills or Global Studies pathway

• Afternoons (Mon–Thu): academy sessions, then the leisure programme

• Fridays and weekends: full-day excursions

• Evenings: sports, games, creative activities and local outings (bowling, cinema, crazy golf, laser tag, theatre)

• Middle weekend: a relaxed day at the King's Junior School campus with sports, competitions, a pool party and a BBQ

🚌 Excursions

Several full-day trips in each two-week session, chosen to suit each age group, for example:

• London: the Tower of London, the Science Museum, the London Eye and an open-top bus tour, London Zoo

• Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter

• Thorpe Park or Chessington World of Adventures, and aqua parks

🏡 Boarding, Meals and Care

• Students live in the King's School boarding houses in rooms of 1 to 6 students. Boys and girls live in separate houses, and students of similar ages share the same corridors.

• Common rooms with TV and games, gardens, Wi-Fi and a regular laundry service

• House staff live in every boarding house, overseen by a Pastoral Care Supervisor

• Supervised at all times: in lessons, activities, excursions and at night

• 24/7 CCTV, ID lanyards, secure entry and an on-site security team; all staff are background-checked and safeguarding-trained

• Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks every day in the school dining halls (packed lunches on excursions). Dietary needs and allergies are catered for.

• Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, sports halls, playing fields, music, art and dance studios

✅ What's Included

• Two weeks of tuition: 24.5 hours of the main pathway and 14 hours of academy sessions

• Full-board accommodation in a boarding house

• All excursions, and the sports and social programme

• 24/7 supervision and pastoral care

• Escorted airport transfers from London Heathrow or Gatwick on the set arrival and departure days (09:00–18:00)

❌ What's Not Included

• Flights and travel insurance

• The IELTS exam academy supplement (£350)

• Transfers from other airports or outside the set times (quoted on request)

• Pocket money and personal expenses

📅 Dates and Price (2027)

• 4 – 17 July 2027

• 18 – 31 July 2027

• 1 – 14 August 2027

£3,600 per two-week session · Ages 8–17 · Fixed start dates, so everyone in a session arrives together

📍 Location

The King's School sits in the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the historic city centre of Canterbury, Kent. It is about 1 hour from London St Pancras, 1.5 hours from Gatwick and 2 hours from Heathrow.

The King's School Canterbury — Google Maps ↗

25 The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2ES, United Kingdom Google Maps ↗