11-16 year olds, girls and boys (English level: Elementary to Advanced)
English plus STEM Summer Camp is an academic enrichment summer programme which immerses students in the English language study combined with educational and practical discovery workshops and academic projects, covering subject areas in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The courses take place at Concord College which is a highly academic independent boarding school in England with proud academic success. The programme combines English language tuition with interactive workshops and projects. Students are split into Juniors and Seniors groups for lessons and activities. Juniors programms are for students aged 11-12 years with 23 hours of English lessons plus 24.5 hours of Discovery Workshops, whereas seniors programmes are for 13–16 years, and have 21 hours of English lessons with 26.5 hours of Academic Projects.
The English lessons follow a communicative methodology with special emphasis on improving the student’s oral ability. Grammar and the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening are all covered. Students complement their general English study with Discovery Workshops and Academic Projects in STEM subject areas to build their confidence and improve their English and interpersonal skills.
Discovery Workshops are an immersive and interactive way for young students to enhance their knowledge in their chosen course or to explore and learn a new subject. The workshops include Mathematics and Technology, and students can choose one of them to explore throughout the course. All courses offer an in-built educational trip to accompany the students learning.
Academic Projects for senior students are centred on developing students’ skills and knowledge in the chosen subjects which enable students to explore and learn more about potential future study and career paths whilst building their confidence. Senior students can choose to study one of four STEM projects, namely Astrophysics & Space Exploration, Engineering – building your future, Exploring Mathematics, and Computer Science – emerging technologies. The course structure combines practical hands-on and interactive classes, individual and group project work, and an accompanying educational trip.
Students will be asked to complete an English placement test on arrival at the summer school. Progress tests and tutorials are carried out by teachers at the end of each week to monitor and review each student’s progress and well-being, enabling any necessary class adjustments or further support the following week. Outside the classroom, students will take part in scheduled activities through the Enrichment Activity Programme and the Social and Leisure Programme. Students live, study and play in an English speaking, safe and secure multinational environment, where they have fun, make new friends from around the globe, and enjoy every opportunity to improve their English ability.
Course Essentials:
English plus STEM Summer Camp consists of a well-balanced programme of English and STEM tuition, activities, sports and excursions. The programme includes:
- 47.5 hours of teaching including accompanying educational trip
- Skills workshop/project lessons
- 2 full-day excursions and 2 half-day trips
- Full afternoon and evening activity programme
- End-of-course Assessment & Certificate
- Maximum class size of 12 for juniors and 15 for seniors students
- Group travel insurance
- Heathrow airport transfers between 09.30 and 16.30 BST on arrival/departure days.
STEM Outlines:
Activities:
Outside language tuition, students will have the opportunity to join two scheduled enrichment activities alongside an extensive and fun social programme packed with campus events and exciting trips and excursions. Students will be able to opt for two activities in total, one activity per week. Students must select a different activity each week. Some activities incur an additional fee and places are limited for each subject.
Excursions:
Excursions are a vital part of the summer experience for international students to gain a cultural understanding of the UK alongside English language study. The choices of excursions include:
- Bath
- Cardiff
- Chester
- Liverpool
- Nottingham
- Cambridge
- Oxford
- Shrewsbury
- Telford
- Stratford-Upon-Avon
- Alton Towers Theme Park
- Drayton Manor Theme Park
- Severn Valley Railway
- Harry Porter Warner Brothers Tour
The sample timetables below include a typical course programme and a typical day of English plus STEM Summer Camp at Concord College.
Boarding:
Students live on campus in modern, well-furnished, single gender boarding houses. Older students have en suite facilities, and the younger students share bathrooms. All front doors are accessed through an electronic key pad and magnetic locks operate through the night for increased protection and security. Each bedroom has a security safe for personal possessions. Students are responsible for their own keys. House parents reside in each boarding house and they are responsible for the student’s care and welfare whilst they are at summer camp.
Meals:
Well balanced, nutritious cooked meals are provided in the beautiful dining hall. Drinks and biscuits are available in the lesson breaks. Packed lunches are provided for excursions. Special diets are well catered for. Fruit and refreshments are available throughout the day and cakes provided for each student if their birthday occurs during a course.
Facilities:
On-campus facilities include two large sports halls, squash courts, aerobics and weight training room, climbing wall, running track, outdoor chess, indoor heated swimming pool, football pitches, volleyball courts, all weather basketball and tennis courts, high ropes course, art room, computer room and student common room. Performing Arts Centre with music practice rooms and a large theatre where films are shown every evening, and live performances are given at the end of each course. The Wi-Fi is also available throughout the school but is switched off at midnight until 0600 to ensure students have a good night’s sleep.
Laundry: Laundry is done once a week. All bed linen is provided and is laundered once a week. Towels are not provided.
Concord College is a prestigious international boarding school that was established in 1949. Set in 80 acres of beautiful English countryside in the heart of Shropshire, Concord is well known for its high academic standards and the warmth of its community. The ethos of Concord rests on international understanding combined with high standards that enable young people to grow and to flourish.
Concord is a warm, calm and friendly community in which values of trust and decency are shared between staff and students in a mature atmosphere of mutual respect. The school expect all their students to achieve the highest standards and to gain entry to top universities in the UK. They also take care to nurture the individuality of students at Concord to develop their self-confidence. Students are also encouraged to understand the needs of others and to respect the values of the Concord community.
Concord is very proud of the academic success of the students. Academically, the results speak for themselves. Not only do Concord students produce astonishing GCSE and A level performances, but they also go on to attend top universities in the UK and around the world. In 2023, 90% of all their GCSE grades were 7/8/9 – the equivalent of the old A*/A grades, an impressive 53% of grades were 9s – the highest possible grade. For A-Level, 68% of their students were awarded A*/A grades. 90 students achieved AAA grades or better, and 33 students achieved A*A*A* grades or better.
Concord is annually ranked highly in UK school league tables. ‘The Good Schools Guide’ has described the school as ‘near perfect’, ‘in a league of its own’ and ‘where the next generation of global high flyers is being nurtured’. In 2021, Sunday Times ranked Corcord as 21st overall in the UK, 6th for A level results, 3rd best boarding school for A levels, and 83% of Concord’s 2021 leavers got entry to UK Top 10 universities according to the Times World Rankings (57% UK Top 5). In 2022, The Telegraph ranked Concord College’s A-level results as 16th amongst all UK independent schools, and 7th for those which offer boarding. For the 12th consecutive year, Concord has won an award recognising the College as one of the country’s top five co-educational boarding schools by The Best Schools, who provide independent advice on UK independent schools and publish league tables of independent schools.
