Marymount Summer School (Discovery Summer)

• Year of foundation: 1926;
• Location: Suburb of London, England;
• Age: from 8 to 13 years;
• Type: summer school;
• Type of program: mixed;
• Language of instruction: English;
• Form of study: summer courses.

Each summer, Marymount School Summer opens the doors to hundreds of young people from six dozen countries. The school occupies picturesque protected land 18 kilometers from London and here, among gardens and green parks, it will be comfortable even for the youngest students. The priority in teaching is the improvement of language skills, however, along with this, students develop their other numerous talents in an atmosphere of goodwill and comfort.

The Marymount School has modern equipped rooms and computers, sports halls and playgrounds for volleyball, badminton, softball, basketball and other physical exercises. In the spacious halls of the school are fun holidays and parties with karaoke. Upon graduation, students receive certificates and memorable photos.

Before the first lesson, each student takes a placement test (written + oral) to be placed in a group matching their age and CEFR level (A1 Elementary — B2 Upper-Intermediate). The maximum class size is 12 students; in exceptional cases, a slight increase is permitted to ensure correct level distribution. A strict quota is applied on the proportion of each nationality and language group to provide a diverse language environment.

The curriculum is designed for 20 academic hours per week (boarding) or 16 hours per week (day) and consists of two modules:

• English Skills — thematic lessons focused on developing grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills; the programme is based on the CEFR scale (Trinity GESE),
• English Workshops — project-based team sessions with topics that change every week (examples: Breakfast TV, British Musicals, Incredible Inventors, Online Game Design, Nature Explorers, Magical Arts, Songwriting, 3D Maps & Models, NASA Space Designers). They develop 21st-century skills: critical thinking, teamwork, presentations, problem-solving, creativity, and decision-making.

Each week, students work on a group project; final presentations take place on Friday (parents are invited!). Daily homework is included. The curriculum is modular: a student can study for up to 5 weeks at Marymount without repeating material.

Boarding classes include resident English Student Hosts — native English-speaking British children living on campus alongside international students (up to 10% of the group), providing constant practice of real-life English. Mobile phones are prohibited during lessons, mealtimes, and activities, and are collected overnight.

Upon completion of the course, each student receives a portfolio of coursework, an academic report, a Discovery Summer certificate, and a group photo.

Discovery Summer Marymount offers two main programs for children aged 8–13:

• Marymount Juniors Full Day (day program),
• English Plus+ (boarding). Duration: 1–2 weeks (arrivals on Saturdays).

Both programs cover CEFR levels A1–B2 (Elementary — Upper-Intermediate). The curriculum is modular: a student can study for up to 5 weeks without repeating topics.

• In 2025, Discovery Summer programs were attended by students from 42 nationalities, and for the 2026 season there are already bookings from representatives of 34 countries.
• 100% pass rate on the Trinity GESE exam at the end of 2025.
• More than 60% of staff return year after year, with some teachers having worked continuously for 10–15 years in a row.
• English Student Hosts — a distinctive feature of the program since its founding: up to 10% of residential campus participants are British native-speaking children living alongside international students.
• In 2023, Discovery Summer provided full scholarships to Ukrainian teenagers.
• In 2024, students raised funds for a refugee education project, and Discovery Summer doubled the final amount.
• In 2010, Discovery Summer, in partnership with ActionAid, funded the construction of a primary and lower secondary school for 800+ children in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
• In May 2020, Discovery Summer launched a free online English program for 200 refugee children from Syria in camps in Lebanon.

• The day program is ideal for families coming to London: a parallel English course for children aged 8–13 runs at Marymount, while parents attend English classes at Kensington (Collingham).
• In the residential program, international students live alongside British native-speaking children (English Student Hosts in blue t-shirts/hoodies) — this creates a truly immersive living language environment around the clock. English Student Hosts are selected based on criteria of friendliness, self-confidence, and interest in meeting people from around the world; many return several years in a row.
• More than 40 nationalities are present on the campuses simultaneously — a genuinely international experience.
• The majority of students come by recommendation — from family, friends, or through international representatives, and many return every year.
• The campus is located near Richmond Park — one of London's largest royal parks, which allows nature walks to be included in the daily program.

The road to the summer school from Heathrow International Airport takes 40 minutes. Marymount International School gives students the opportunity to live permanently with peers from different parts of the world who come for the same purpose: boys and girls are placed separately from each other in an amount of 1 to 4 people in a room. When settling children in rooms, the school administration tries to take into account their language level, and a rest room is provided for free communication with each other.

In the dining room there is a three-time healthy and varied meal, including an assortment of English and international menus.

Marymount Residence is guarded around the clock: there are only five students per teacher + each of the children has the opportunity to contact the school staff on a round-the-clock basis in person or via the hotline. If the child can be placed with relatives or friends in London, the program is provided at a cost that does not include residence.

Every day after class various cultural and entertainment programs are organized for pupils of all ages:

• Shows;
• Competitions;
• Discos;
• Games and many others.

The compulsory program includes excursions to the sights of England, visits to museums and castles, galleries and exhibitions: 1 full day excursion and 1 half day excursion. For those who wish are available horse riding and tennis.

• No more than 14 people in a group;
• Rich excursion program;
• Extensive range of additional classes and skills, including in the process of workshops on teaching English using unusual methods;
• Ability to track the progress of the child's education.

The school has a very good infrastructure:

• Guarded residence;
• 2 working areas;
• Classes;
• Internet access in each residence;
• Sports fields and stadiums.

A Trinity exam can be taken at the end of the course.

Periods of the educational course:

1 week: June 29-July 6, July 27-August 3;

2 weeks: June 29- July 13, July 6- 20, July 13- 27, July 20-August 3;

3 weeks: June 29- July 20, July 6- 27, July 13- August 3;

Check-in / out on Saturdays (arrival and departure 09.00-15.00, Heathrow).

Extras:

• One way transfer - Gatwick 110 GBP
• One way transfer - Heathrow 110 GBP

According to the results of 2025, all students who took the optional oral Trinity GESE exam passed it successfully (100%).

The academic course assessment programme is based on the international CEFR scale; each student receives an academic report with a progress evaluation and a Discovery Summer certificate.

The summer programme is aimed at developing the skills necessary for successful continuation of studies: critical thinking, teamwork, public presentations, creative and analytical problem-solving — all of this is built into every course.

• Age: strictly 8–13 years at the time of the course (or a birthday during the course).
• There are no special entrance tests; the English level is determined by a test upon arrival.
• Children aged 13 and above on day courses may return home independently with written parental permission.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision