Career Discovery Summer Programme at Dulwich College London for Ages 12–14

Course Description: Career Discovery Summer Programme at Dulwich College London for Ages 12–14

🌍 Course Overview

Career Discovery lets students aged 12–14 explore medicine, finance, business, computing, AI and engineering while building their English. The course is delivered with careers education organisation InvestIN. Students take part in workshops, simulations and team projects, with London as a backdrop.

The course focuses on exploration, communication and problem-solving rather than specialist training, so no prior knowledge is needed. It is ideal for curious students who have not yet chosen a direction. Over the course, students try out several fields, practise talking about them in English and build the confidence to present their own ideas.

Key facts

• Ages: 12–14

• Length: 2 or 4 weeks

• Minimum English level: B1+

• Academic hours: 25 per week

• Class size: maximum 15 students

• Options: residential or day

📚 Academic Programme

The course has three modules. Each one uses age-appropriate scenarios and hands-on tasks to show how professionals think and work.

Medicine & Healthcare

Students look at the questions, communication and decisions involved in medicine. Scenarios help them think like healthcare professionals and talk through choices clearly.

Business, Finance & Enterprise

This module covers how organisations make decisions and manage money. Students take on business challenges and practise presenting their recommendations.

Technology, AI & Engineering

Students use technology and engineering thinking to solve problems. Topics include computing, AI, design and innovation.

Afternoon Challenges

Afternoon challenges reinforce the morning sessions. Activities include building a business, live trading simulations and mini-hackathons.

Time to Shine

The course ends with Time to Shine. Students present an idea or recommendation to an audience, drawing on what they have learned.

Outcomes

• A certificate of achievement

• Tutor feedback on participation and engagement

• Greater awareness of possible careers

• Experience of communication and problem-solving in English

📍 Campus & Location

The programme takes place at Dulwich College, a green campus in south London built around a Victorian red-brick school with lawns and trees. It is spacious and calm, but central London is easy to reach, and students travel into the city for excursions. During the summer, students use the College's classrooms, theatre, gym, sports hall, student common room, and modern and traditional dining halls. Wi-Fi and a laundry service are also available. The summer school rents these facilities from Dulwich College, and the College does not deliver or endorse the programme.

🏫 Accommodation & Meals

Residential students live on campus, with residential staff living alongside them. Room types include single rooms with en-suite bathrooms (chosen at booking), twin rooms, shared rooms and small dormitories, some with shared bathrooms. Students also have common rooms and a weekly laundry service.

Residential students get all meals, served in the modern and traditional dining halls. Day students get lunch and an evening meal. The summer school says it will do its best to meet dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan and Halal.

🚌 Excursions & Activities

Each two-week course includes two full-day excursions into London. Excursions vary by session and may include:

• London sightseeing: famous landmarks, world-class museums, cultural sites and shopping

• Knightsbridge museums: collections covering science, technology, design, natural history and culture

• University College London (UCL), for Career Discovery only: a day at UCL covering how to prepare for school, university and job interviews, how to write a basic CV and how to stand out from an early age

Activities

Afternoons and evenings follow a full multi-activity and social programme. Activities include:

• Sport: badminton, basketball, circuit training, cricket, football, rounders, volleyball and yoga

• Creative: arts and crafts, creative writing, film festival, photo challenge and talent show

• Social: board games and puzzles, karaoke, murder mystery, picnic in the park, pizza and film night, silent disco and Taskmaster

Whole-school events include quizzes, Secret Cinema, sports tournaments, house competitions and themed evenings. The course ends with a leavers' party and a graduation ceremony.

Optional Studios (extra cost, limited places)

Students can add an optional studio for £350 each:

• Filmmaking Studio: led by a professional filmmaker. Teams make a short film on location at Dulwich College

• West End Studio: a practical drama workshop, then a full-day trip to see a West End show

• AI Studio: hands-on creative projects using AI, such as images, video, music or interactive work

• Pro Football Coaching: football training and football trips such as stadium tours

⏰ A Day in the Life

A sample day (subject to change):

• 07:45: wake up and breakfast

• 09:00–11:00: Academic Programme, with workshops, simulations and team projects

• 11:00: Academic Programme continues, with presentations, teamwork and practical challenges

• 12:30: lunch

• 13:30: Afternoon Challenge, such as building a business, trading simulations or mini-hackathons

• 16:30: Multi-Activity Programme

• 18:00: dinner

• 19:00: Evening Social Programme, with whole-school events, house competitions and themed evenings

Day students follow the same timetable from 09:00 to 20:30.

📅 2027 Dates & Fees

All sessions start and end on a Monday.

• 12 July – 26 July 2027 — Length: 2 weeks — Residential: £5,495 — Day: £3,495

• 26 July – 9 August 2027 — Length: 2 weeks — Residential: £5,495 — Day: £3,495

• 9 August – 23 August 2027 — Length: 2 weeks — Residential: £5,495 — Day: £3,495

• 12 July – 9 August 2027 — Length: 4 weeks — Residential: £10,990 — Day: £6,990

• 26 July – 23 August 2027 — Length: 4 weeks — Residential: £10,990 — Day: £6,990

• Deposit: a non-refundable deposit of £700 per student, due within 48 hours of submitting the booking form

• Balance: due by 1 May 2027. Bookings made after that date must be paid in full within 48 hours of the booking confirmation

• Not included: flights and airport or train transfers. Transfers are available for an extra fee

• Places are limited, allocated on a first-come basis and usually fill from spring

• Career Discovery is charged at the subject-course rate

✔️ What's Included

All students:

• Tuition and course materials

• Standard excursions, including entry costs

• Full afternoon and evening activity programme

• Wi-Fi

• UK SIM card

• Comprehensive student insurance

• Academic progress report and certificate

Residential students also get:

• Accommodation

• All meals

• Weekly laundry

• 24/7 pastoral care

Day students also get:

• Lunch and evening meal. The day programme runs from 09:00 to 20:30, and students go home each evening.

🛡️ Safety & Welfare

• 24/7 on-site pastoral support for residential students

• A staff-to-student ratio of 1:6

• All residential staff are DBS-checked and trained

• The summer school met all 15 of 15 British Council areas of strength at its 2018 inspection

• Comprehensive student and travel insurance is included in the fees

• Classes have a maximum of 15 students

Optional transfers from Heathrow and St Pancras are available for an additional fee. Students who need a UK Standard Visitor Visa should apply early, as processing can take about three to four weeks. Booking can be cancelled if a copy of the visa is not received four weeks before arrival.

💡 Who This Programme Is For

Career Discovery suits students aged 12–14 who:

• Are curious about several careers and want to explore them before choosing

• Like learning through workshops, simulations and team challenges

• Want to practise English in real situations, such as discussing ideas, solving problems and presenting

• Have at least a B1+ level of English

• Want an early introduction to interviews, CVs and university life, including a day at UCL

Students do not need any specialist knowledge, only curiosity and a willingness to get involved.