Residential multinational English Language Summer Course: a 4-week Summer School for 10-18 year-olds during the school summer holidays in 2012 – a camp every summer since 1973… A great developmental experience and a fantastic holiday. Vacational Studies is a British Council Accredited School

Wednesday 11 July 2012 to Wednesday 8 August 2012 (4 weeks) £3300

‘VacStuds Lite’ (any 2 weeks between 11 July and 8 August) £1700 (See ‘Latest News’)

 
 

Now with INSTANT VACSTUDS videoclips

Latest News: Updated: 18/05/12 by Ian Mucklejohn – Director, Vacational Studies (+44 1635 523 333; +44 7717 007 007)
  • We are a Trinity examination centre and will offer the Trinity Spoken English examinations at the end of the 4-week Course.  See IGM’s Page for the rationale. These are internationally-recognised qualifications for employment purposes.  A limited number are available ‘at cost’ (= whatever Trinity charge us).  There is an application form at:- http://www.vacstuds.com/parents-2012/
  • All second payments were due by 15 May…
  • Staff names and phone numbers at Heathrow on 11 July and 8 August and information for ‘Lite’ Course students travelling on other days is on our password-protected page Parents 2012:- http://www.vacstuds.com/parents-2012/
  • See IGM’s Page for the latest information on the 2012 Course.  For example, there will be a public speaking process for all our students that will run through the entire four weeks and culminate in a competition.  This will be a major development for the Course’s social programme and an important linguistic addition.  I’m afraid this is where the few ‘Lite’ people we have will lose out in that they will not be there for the culmination.  The word ‘Lite’ describes this version of the Course rather well.
  • This is Visa advice for 2012.  Citizens of the EU, Europe and Scandinavia and many other countries do not need a visa.  Click Do I need a visa? if you are not sure.Students coming to us from counties requiring a visa need only a ‘Child Visitor’ visa – read http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/visiting/child/.  This is easily obtained from the British Embassy.
    This is the form you need to complete:- http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/visas/vaf1a.pdf.  State ‘Attend Summer Course’ as the reason for the visit.  We will provide a supporting letter on request. As we are an Accredited School, this is acceptable to UKBA (UK Borders Agency).  For helpful information on all types of visa (such as those parents might need) read http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/1903073/supportingdocsvisituk.  Make your application in plenty of time as it takes 20 days to discover a mistake and another 20 days to correct it.  Do not ask for a ‘Tier 4′ visa or a ‘Student’ or ‘Student Visitor’ visa. Supply all the documents requested, including the letter allowing your child to be in the UK without parents.
  • The ‘Theatre Visits’ form is now available.  Click on Theatre Visits request form 2012.  Roald Dahl’s ’Matilda’ is soon to open on Broadway.  ‘The Wizard of Oz’ has been nominated for a 2012 Olivier Award.  These are the ’must have’ West End tickets.  The other show for 2012 is ‘The Lion King’.  After three days, half the tickets for ‘The Lion King’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ⅓ of the ‘Matilda’ tickets have been taken.  Several parents have booked for all the shows.
  • All tickets for the 2012 London Olympics football match on 1 August have been allocated.  We may look at getting tickets for other events nearer the time.
  • The £:€ rate today is £1 = €1.2763; the £:$ rate today is £1 = $1.6097 Details from NatWest Commercial Exchange Rates (see ‘NatWest buys from you’ column.)  We can invoice in £, € or $ – whichever is better for you.
  • We are offering a ‘VacStuds Lite’ programme this summer. ‘VacStuds Lite’ is any two weeks.  The price is £1700.  It is ‘Lite’ because our free collection/return is included if the dates are 11 July or 8 August, otherwise it is not included but can be arranged at cost.  Excursions are included if the dates of the programmed excursions coincide with the dates chosen.  I shall accept only a small number (mainly those who have already asked.)
  • Developments for the 2012 programme appear on IGM’s Page. From 2012 onwards, I have decided to include the normal secondary school age-range to 18, rather than have an arbitrary (and rather artificial) cut-off point at 17.  My visits to three countries in the last month and discussions with Mary Hare have made it clear to me that we are now able – and Mary Hare is equipped – to offer our Course to the entire secondary school-age-range from 10-18. 18 year-olds whom we know will be given responsibilities and privileges as ‘prefects’.  The responsibilities will vary according to the wishes and ability of the individual.  New 18s will be given responsibilities and privileges when we feel we know them.  Take a look at 2012 Prefects on IGM’s Page.  As one of our returning 18 year-olds says: ‘I like the conditions of the Prefectship because I think it has in itself both the social responsibility of a Staff Helper and the fun of still being a student.’  Universities also like to see evidence of positions of responsibility and this will enhance an 18/19 year-old’s CV.
  • Most of our old brochures are now in the ‘Archives’ section (accessible via the top menu bar.) I am starting to add Course Lists and have started with the earliest computerised lists – from 1992.  So, if you were with us in 1992, you’ll find everyone’s name.  It’s a massive project with nearly 40 years’ worth of material to go through, so please bear with me.  I also have all the application forms and final reports from 1973 to date, but shall not upload these…
  • We have passed our four-yearly British Council Inspection and our Accreditation continues for another four years.  My thanks to all the students and staff who were so positive about our work when they met the British Council Inspectors in the ‘focus groups’.  We have been allocated five ‘points of excellence’.  All we are permitted by The British Council to publish is this ‘Publishable Statement’ in its entirety:- ‘The British Council inspected and accredited Vacational Studies in July 2011. The Accreditation Scheme assesses the standards of management, resources and premises, teaching and welfare and accredits organisations which meet the overall standard in each area inspected (see www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation for details.) This private language school offers residential vacation courses for under 18s.  Points of excellence were noted in administration of students, academic management, teaching, pastoral care and care of under 18s.  The inspection report stated that the organisation met the standards of the Scheme.’
  • VacStuds videoclips:  See and hear Bjarni, Harald and Ben talking about their student experiences; Veronica and Hedvig talking about being Staff Helpers;  Lewis and Rachel talking about being Sports Assistants; Karen talking about being Senior Teacher; and Ayla and Vanessa talking about ‘the best four weeks of my life… and, for those with us in 2009: Niko’s 2009 class film ‘Big B(r)other’
  • Potential UK Reps from Norwich School for 2013 can see and hear about the Course in videoclips from:- all the 2011 UK Reps: Tom, Joe, Lewis and Becky (all of whom have been invited back as Apprentices in 2012),  Tom Dell the UK Rep (who will be back as an Apprentice in 2012) and  Becky Cadman the UK Rep (who will be back as an Apprentice in 2012) talking with Gianni from Switzerland about the film project.
  • Inspiration for 2012 students from 2011 class videos can be accessed by clicking here.
  • 2012 students can get a taste of the fun in store by looking at the 2011 photos and videoclips which can be accessed by clicking here.
  • See and hear about the Courses from:- Aaron the UK Rep (who will be on the staff in 2012) and Hugh the SportsSocial Organiserwho was Senior Sports/Social Organiser in 2011 and will visit in 2012.
  • Memories of 2010 are at Mary Hare class videos and Cheam class videos.  Photos and video clips of the Courses at Mary Hare and Cheam in 2009 and 2010 can be seen by clicking ‘Photos 2011′ and then going to 2009 or 2010.
  • There is a report on our four-yearly British Council Inspection in July 2011. Our Accreditation runs until 2015.  Read the ‘Publishable Statement’ online (‘Publishable Statements L-Z‘).

Vacational Studies Residential English Language Summer Courses/Summer Camps 2012

4 week British Council Accredited Summer Boarding Schools in England in 2012 for Boys and Girls aged 10-18.

Residential UK English Language Courses – Holiday Summer Course in Great Britain.  The best developmental experience a child can have.

In 1972, Ian Mucklejohn founded Vacational Studies Residential Junior School Summer Holiday Courses which have been running for 39 years under his aegis for teenagers (teens) and those a little younger. Vacational Studies combines a great holiday with plenty of sports and activities with a task-based English teaching programme to make this ‘the investment that can never lose its value’. Here is our British Council Accredited Residential English Language Course (Summer School; Summer Camp) programme in the United Kingdom for Summer 2012.

English Language Summer School Accredited by The British Council

Vacational Studies is a UK English Language Course Accredited by The British Council. It is a residential Summer School in England in which young people have an enjoyable time both learning the world’s language – English – and growing up. For youngsters, a residential English Summer Course is a developmental experience and it is important to make an informed choice. As Vacational Studies is ‘Accredited by The British Council’, it qualifies as for membership of English UK – formerly ARELS (The Association of Recognised English Language Services) - a professional body, membership of which is granted only after rigorous inspection by The British Council and re-inspection every four years. Vacational Studies was last inspected in 2011 and is Accredited as an English Language School until March 2016. Vacational Studies is an Educational Establishment on the UK Government’s DfES (Department for Education and Science) Education Providers’ Register. It is also authorised by the UK Borders Agency to request student visas.

About this website

On this site we describe our English Language Course; our English Boarding Summer School; our United Kingdom ‘summer camp’ for 10 to 18 year-olds. The photos show many of the summer activities, fun, friendship, sports and enjoyable learning experiences that are part of our Summer English Course for youngsters. There is an overview of the work we do, in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish, so you can decide if our English Language Course in Great Britain is right for your child. We also include a description of what happened in the summer of 2011. It is written in a different style so you have an idea of the Director, Ian Mucklejohn, and his personality which necessarily influences the atmosphere on the Courses. It gives a more detailed rationale of the 2012 Courses and what has shaped them, so you and your son or daughter will be fully informed and can prepare for the experience. If your application is accepted, both sections are essential reading. Our Courses at The Mary Hare School are English Language Courses for teenagers from all over the world so the later section (‘Unrealisable Expectations’) is important as it deals with fundamental issues.  Take a look at ‘IGM’s page‘, too.

What we try to do

More than a respected, accredited and well-established Junior Vacation Summer English Course for children and young people to learn the English language, Vacational Studies aims to create a totally international Summer School with students from as many different countries as possible. We avoid accepting a large number from any particular country. In this way we try to ensure that English is the main medium of communication among the students. The teaching is special, too.  It is designed to be quite different from the teaching in the student’s own school.  Our 2012 teaching programme exploits the international nature of the Course.  We use a ‘task-based’ system in which students and their teacher create a film script. This is the basis for the written work. The students then take parts as actors and film crew and film the script. They work as a team to edit the film and upload it onto Shutterfly. By working together in English and using English as a living language, we hope our students will realise its importance and value. Our students want to use English to make friends. This self-motivation increases their fluency. To learn English, summer activities, sports, social events, competitions through the ‘House’ system and fun happen all the time. The emphasis on the practical use of English is combined with a full sports, entertainment and excursion programme helping youngsters to learn English internationally in an exciting and lively English Summer School.

Residence

Our English Language Summer Courses for young people are fully residential. Students eat, sleep and have classes in the School.  We use The Mary Hare School, Chieveley, near Newbury.  Newbury is about one hour from London and 30 minutes from Oxford in the centre of the south of England. We do not use host families. All our staff are checked for suitability.

The ‘House’ system

Youngsters love competition. It stimulates and motivates them. Our Course is divided into 4 small Schools or ‘Houses’ of about 50 students for sports and events. The Schools/Houses are named Mary Hare, Cheam, Hawtreys and Douai-Elstree to preserve the traditions of the last few decades. There will be a Sports/Social Organiser in charge of each and each will have its own identity. Their colours will be blue (Mary Hare), red (Cheam), yellow (Douai-Elstree) and green (Hawtreys). Each will have its own traditional song. All of them will be on the same campus – The Mary Hare School campus. Returning students and friends will be able to be in the same House and the same dormitory area, if they apply early enough. New students will be allocated to a House by us to ensure a good spread of ages and nationalities. While students will have a competitive loyalty to their own House, they will integrate socially. Classes will be integrated as will the main evening activities. Each House will have its own table for some evening meals. Breakfast and lunch tables will be integrated. Sports Day will be a four-cornered event with competitive sports, and will showcase dancing and singing from each House.

The Students

We accept boys and girls near-beginners, intermediate and more advanced students aged 10 to 18 worldwide. Complete beginners are not accepted because they cannot participate in an international community. The Courses are sports-orientated and encourage good social development for teenagers in a community situation.

Students who will benefit from our Summer School

The information on this site will help you make sure that our special English Language Course is suitable for your child. Those who will benefit and we enjoy having with us will be internationally-minded, interested in English, outgoing, gregarious and able to function independently. They will also be willing to accept the constraints of community living.

How they will benefit

We hope that our students will learn a great deal of English, make good friendships and develop a positive international feeling. As well as formal study, we concentrate on the holiday aspect of the Course. While we try to involve students in all activities, we naturally respect the wishes of those who like to read quietly or be with friends. Over the years, we have built up an excellent reputation with parents and young people all over the world. We have a list of parental references. Many boys and girls spend several summers with us renewing old friendships and making new ones. Most students come to us on personal recommendation. The numbers on each of our English Language Courses are deliberately kept quite small so that the staff can get to know everybody and treat each young person as an individual. Many of the children who came to us in the 1970s and 1980s are now sending their own children so they can have the same international experience with the feeling of independence in a safe and secure environment. Former students of any age can keep in contact via ‘Giotto‘ or our Facebook site. Those aged 19-22 may consider becoming a ‘Staff Helper‘ in the summer of 2012.  Staff Helper places will be allocated on 31 March 2012.