8 – 17 year olds, girls only
English level: Elementary to Advanced
Heathfield School Summer English Courses are the only British Council accredited all-girls English Language courses in England, offered at all girls’ boarding school – Heathfield School in Ascot, which has educated many daughters of the world’s royal families.
Heathfield School Summer English Courses are carefully designed for girls who want to learn and improve their English. Students are streamed by age and ability and tested at the beginning of the course to ensure they are placed in the appropriate class. The course contents and activities and events are designed to best serve girls interest, including fun-packed and educational social programme through a range of activities, balancing creative, cultural, artistic and sporting options. Native English speakers students will join for joint activities and excursions.
Project-based work is focused on developing various aspects of speaking sub-skills as well as areas such as creative and critical thinking. Students work in a team to create or develop products and presentations, conduct and participate in interviews, undertake and report on surveys.
For girls aged 14+ with B1 intermediate level of English can choose to attend one-week English Enrichment class with an extra course fee of £300 for one week.
Course details
Heathfield School Summer English Courses consist of a well-balanced programme of English tuition, activities, sports and excursions. It includes:
- Girls only summer school environment
- 30 hours of English tuition
- 20 hours conversational English – including during debates, set projects and cultural forums
- 24 hours of specialist training Academies
- Full afternoon and evening activity programme
- Mixing with British girls in social activities
- Three weekly trips
- Staff to student ratio is 1:6
- Maximum class size is 16, and the average class size is around 12
- Insurance
- Airport transfers are NOT included. Heathrow airport transfer costs £80 if required.
Activities:
Outside the classroom, girls will improve language skills through Creative, Sporting and Academic Academies and the extensive entertaining activities.
Academies offer girls the opportunity to focus on specific or varied disciplines, for the majority on 3 afternoons each week. In addition, girls will improve language skills through a broad range of sporting, cultural and entertaining activities in the evenings, such as art, crafts, photography, drama, music, floristry, hair and beauty and a whole range of field, water and racquet sports.
Excursions:
Heathfield School Summer English Courses offer students 3 trips each week with a wide range of interesting and enjoyable places to experience the rich cultural heritage of Britain. The trips include:
Week 1
- Thorpe Lakes Aqua Park – Outdoors (HD)
- Salisbury – Cathedral Tour and City visit (FD)
- 10 Pin Bowling (E)
Week 2
- Windsor – Boat Tour, Sightseeing & Shopping (HD)
- London 1 – Sightseeing Tour & London Eye (FD)
- Cinema (E)
Week 3
- Stonehenge (HD)
- Bath – Roman Baths and Bath Abbey Tower (FD)
- Thorpe Lakes Aqua Park – Outdoors (E)
Week 4
- Windsor Castle (HD)
- Cambridge – Punting and sightseeing (FD)
- 10 Pin Bowling (E)
Week 5
- Chessington World of Adventures (Juniors) (HD)
- Thorpe Park (Seniors) (HD)
- Hever Castle and Gardens (FD)
- Coral Reef (Indoor swimming) (E)
- FD = A full day excursion
- HD = A half day excursion
- E = An evening excursion
The sample timetable below is a typical summer English course programme at Heathfield School.
Boarding:
Girls are accommodated in bright and comfy single rooms and 2 – 6 bed dorms, and there are shared rooms for younger girls. All rooms have wash basins and there are plenty of bathrooms and shower rooms nearby. Students are fully supported and cared for by experienced and friendly house staff, who make sure that their stay is safe and fun, with medical support 24/7.To help girls settle in and make friends, they will be assigned to a House – a group of girls of different nationalities and ages. Together they put on dance and drama shows or take part in inter-House sports competitions to help girls to mix with each other. Pastoral care is first class. The school nurse and matrons supervise the girls’ welfare and an excellent staff:student ratio ensures high levels of supervision.
Meals:
The School has excellent dining room service offering a wide range of British and International dishes, including a vegetarian option at each meal. Soup and a salad bar, fruit, cheese and puddings are also available. Special diets can also be catered for. Juice and biscuits are provided at break times and barbecue lunches are arranged each week. Heathfield’s kitchens have a five-star local council award for Health and Hygiene.Facilities:
The boarding houses have well equipped games rooms that are very popular with girls throughout the day. Each House also has at least one TV room where girls can watch TV and DVDs. Student can access to computer room with free Wi-Fi. The school is equipped with first class teaching, sporting and leisure facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, modern theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, dance and drama studios, art room as well as cookery room.
Laundry:
A daily laundry service is available for all personal washing. All bed linen is provided and is laundered once a week. Towels are not provided.
Heathfield School is a unique school – the only small, all girls, full boarding school in England. Founded in 1899, originally to educate daughters of the upper classes, over the years it has been home to young ladies from some of the world’s best known families, including HRH Princess Alexandra, cousin of The Queen and daughters of many of the world’s royal families.The school is set in 36 acres of magnificent grounds near Ascot, within easy reach of Windsor, London, Oxford and Heathrow airport. The picturesque grounds of the school with attractive gardens, grass sports pitches, paths and woodland provide girls a safe and enjoyable living and studying environment.
The school is equipped with first class teaching, sporting and leisure facilities, including an indoor 25 meter 6 lanes swimming pool, a modern brand new theatre, an excellent sports hall, tennis courts, dance and drama studios, art room, and a well-equipped cookery room. Heathfield School has been awarded ‘excellent’ in all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.
Academically, Heathfield School strives to provide the best education for all their girls, focusing on the needs of individuals, nurturing both academic and personal development. The school has excellent performance in Arts, which was confirmed again with more than 60% of A Level candidates sitting an Art A-Level with over 3/4 achieving top A*-A grades. The school was named the winner of Good Schools Guide’ for the fourth year running for the Best Result at A-Level achieved by girls taking Art and Design at an English school. At GCSE 2024, half of all grades awarded at 9-7 (A*/A equivalent). The exceptional GCSE results include students taking Additional Mathematics Qualification, an examination above GCSE standard, in which they achieved over 85% at grade A, and Form IV students who took language examinations early, achieving 100% of grades at 7-9, with 94% achieving grade 9. The school’s excellent A-Level results mean that Heathfield girls go to top universities in the UK after leaving the school.
