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Summer 2027 · South London · Ages 12–18

Whitgift Summer School

English, STEM and Business courses at one of Britain’s finest independent schools, with afternoons spent alongside Whitgift’s own English-speaking Student Ambassadors.

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Whitgift Summer School students on the steps of the school

1 · Dates and fees

Summer 2027 dates and fees

Dates

4 July – 15 August 2027

Length of stay

2 to 6 weeks

Tuition

22 hours per week

Arrival and departure

Sundays

Intensive General English

Ages 12–18Level A2+2–6 weeks

Student-centred lessons built on real-life scenarios, in small classes that develop reading, writing, speaking and listening.

2 weeks£4,350

3 weeks£6,000

4 weeks£7,300

6 weeks£10,000

English for Academic Purposes

Ages 14–18Level C1+2–6 weeks

University-level study skills for advanced students: essay writing, debates, seminar discussions, lectures and note-taking.

2 weeks£4,350

3 weeks£6,000

4 weeks£7,300

6 weeks£10,000

STEM

Ages 12–14Level B2+2 weeks

Designed and taught by Whitgift teachers: hands-on experiments, practical challenges and collaborative projects in science and maths.

2 weeks£4,800

Business and Entrepreneurship

Ages 14–18Level B2+2 weeks

Taught by Whitgift teachers: marketing, finance, branding and product development, ending with a team business pitch.

2 weeks£4,800

Fees are per student for a residential place. Some Academies carry an additional fee (see Activities below). Not sure which level fits? See the English level guide.

2 · The school

Whitgift School, est. 1596

Whitgift is one of Britain’s leading independent schools, educating around 1,500 boys aged 10 to 18. Its 45-acre campus in South Croydon has outstanding sports facilities, peacocks roaming the grounds and a water garden that is home to flamingos, with 24-hour security throughout.

Despite its peaceful setting, the school is less than 30 minutes from Central London, around 45 minutes from Gatwick and an hour from Heathrow. South Croydon station is a 10-minute walk away.

“You have an astonishing school. I have never seen anything like it.”

Sir David Attenborough

100%

IB pass rate in 2023, with an average of 39 points out of 45

10th

in the world for IB results in 2021, and the best all-boys school in the UK

68.2%

of A-level grades at A*/A in 2022

91.5%

of GCSE grades at 7–9 in 2022

Founder’s House boarding house and gardens

Students working with a teacher in class

3 · The summer programme

Lessons in the morning. British Immersion in the afternoon.

Every course combines morning lessons with the British Immersion Programme, a project-based afternoon course built on Whitgift’s own teaching materials. Students develop presentation and public speaking, communication, teamwork and leadership skills, working alongside English-speaking Student Ambassadors from Whitgift and its partner school, Croydon High School.

Around 35 Student Ambassadors join the programme each week, taking part in lessons, activities and social events. Students are placed in classes by age and English level.

With only 103 students and no more than 15% from any one language group each week, every student is seen and heard.

22 hrs

tuition and guided learning per week

103

students in total, for a close community

~30

nationalities represented

93%

made friends with British students (2026 survey)

A student presenting during the British Immersion Programme

Timetable: a typical week

Activities shown are examples and change from week to week.

Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
08:20–09:00	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast
09:00–12:30	Lessons	Lessons	Lessons	Lessons	Lessons
12:30–13:30	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
13:30–15:30	British Immersion Project	British Immersion Project	Half-day excursion e.g. London Eye, Leeds Castle, outdoor activity centre	British Immersion Project	British Immersion Project: exhibitions and presentations
15:45–16:30	Free time	Free time		Free time	Free time
16:30–18:00	Academies / Activities	Academies / Activities		Academies / Activities	Academies / Activities
18:00–19:00	Free time	Free time		Free time	Graduation Ceremony and prize-giving (18:30–19:15), then dinner (19:15–20:00)
19:00–19:45	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner
19:45–21:30	Evening options, e.g. capture the flag, quick cricket, yoga	Evening options, e.g. basketball tournament, T-shirt design, archery	Relaxed evening, e.g. table tennis, film, pamper night	Whole-school event, e.g. laser tag, egg protector challenge, inflatable assault course	Disco (20:00–21:30)

Saturday

08:20–09:00Breakfast

09:00–18:45Full-day excursion, e.g. Cambridge, Central London, Thorpe Park

19:00–21:00Dinner, House Night, farewells and packing

Sunday (arrival and departure day)

MorningQuiet morning

10:00–11:00Brunch

12:00–17:45Garden party, ice breakers, shopping trip

18:30–19:30BBQ

19:30–21:30Induction and team-building games

Academies and Multi-Activities

Students choose before they arrive. An Academy gives specialist coaching in one area across four 90-minute sessions a week. Multi-Activities let students try two different 90-minute activities each week. Student Ambassadors take part throughout.

Academies · weeks 1, 3, 5

Street DanceBasketballTennisGolf*

Academies · weeks 2, 4, 6

FootballDesign Technology*Fencing*Horse Riding*

Multi-Activities

ArtAnimal CareFutsalCraftsCookeryPadelBrick BuildBushcraftSquashPhotographyBadmintonSwimming / AquaticsVolleyballTable Tennis

* Additional fee applies.

Evening programme

Led by experienced Activity Leaders, evenings mix team games, sports tournaments and creative challenges, with Student Ambassadors joining in. Highlights include House Night, visiting providers such as laser tag and giant inflatables, and the weekly Graduation Ceremony and Disco.

Excursions

Every week includes one full-day and one half-day excursion, linked to lessons and the British Immersion Programme so students use their English in real situations.

Students on the London Eye above Westminster

Saturday full-day trips 2027

Cambridge, with entry to King’s College and punting Brighton Pier and The Lanes Canterbury Cathedral and river tour London Eye and guided walking tour Thorpe Park Chessington World of Adventures

Wednesday half-day trips

London Dungeon Natural History Museum SPYSCAPE Outdoor activity centres Walking tours of Covent Garden, Carnaby Street, Chinatown, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus

Accommodation and care

Founder’s House

Whitgift’s modern boarding house, renovated in 2025 and overlooking the water garden. Single, twin and triple en-suite rooms, shared with students of the same gender and similar age, mixing nationalities where possible. Wi-Fi throughout.

Welfare and health

House Parents live in the boarding house and provide care 24 hours a day, supported by a Welfare Manager. A Summer School Nurse holds sessions every weekday morning and on Sunday afternoons.

Meals

Three freshly prepared meals a day plus afternoon snacks, with a varied menu. Halal, vegetarian, vegan and other special diets are catered for.

Arrivals and transfers

Transfers from Gatwick, Heathrow, London City and St Pancras International are included on scheduled Sundays between 09:00 and 18:00. Other times are available for a fee, and unaccompanied minors are supported.

Included in every course

22 hours of tuition and guided learning per week

The British Immersion Programme with Student Ambassadors

An Academy or Multi-Activities every week

Full evening and weekend programme

One full-day and one half-day excursion per week

En-suite boarding and three meals a day

24-hour pastoral care and a Summer School Nurse

Airport and St Pancras transfers on scheduled Sundays

Insurance

4 · Booking

Book your place for summer 2027

With only 103 places, Whitgift fills early. A £1,000 deposit secures a place. Complete the booking form, or send us an enquiry and we’ll help you choose the right course and dates. You can also email info@summerschool-uk.com.

Book now Send an enquiry

New to booking? Read the course booking procedure.