Summer school in Canterbury

Summer school in Canterbury is located near the famous Canterbury Cathedral. The educational institution, founded in 1597, is located in the historical center of the city. Classes take place on the campus of King's School. One of the oldest educational institutions of Canterbury is known for its high academic rankings, developed internal infrastructure. There are all conditions for comfortable living, interesting pastime, effective studying on the campus.

St Giles International Summer School in Canterbury is operated by St Giles International, a family-owned language education company established in 1955 by Paul Lindsay. Over more than 70 years, the organization has grown into an international network with six year-round centers in the UK and Canada, welcoming around 10,000 students from over 100 countries every year. Junior Summer programs launched in 2005 and now run at three UK locations, including Canterbury.

The Canterbury summer program is held at The King's School, Britain's oldest boarding school, founded in 597 AD. The campus lies within the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine's Abbey, both designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The school combines medieval architecture with modern educational facilities and offers students aged 8 to 17 an immersive English-language experience. Staying in an English-speaking environment helps students improve their language skills, while the extracurricular program and international community give them opportunities to explore new interests and make friends.

Medical support

A designated medical team and facilities are available to handle emergencies. All staff members are trained in basic first aid, and protocols are in place for contacting medical professionals and parents in an emergency.

The teaching process at St Giles Canterbury follows a communicative, learner-centered approach designed to help students build confidence in using English in real-life situations.

Placement and leveling

Students self-certify their English level at enrollment. On the first morning of lessons, all students take a placement test. Depending on that week's intake, they are either placed in groups based on their level or in a mixed-ability class where the teacher uses differentiated aims to challenge each student appropriately.

Lesson structure

Morning lessons from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM focus on listening, reading, writing, and speaking. They also develop vocabulary and understanding of English grammar. Teachers use interactive whiteboards and a range of modern teaching resources. Lessons are fast-paced and engaging, helping students speak with greater confidence and fluency.

Weekly themes

Each week is built around a cultural or educational theme. Program themes include:

• Global Culture,
• Music and Festivals,
• Health and Wellbeing,
• Sports and Recreation,
• Science and Technology.

Students learn theme-related language and skills throughout the week and complete a group project for presentation on Friday. Projects can take the form of films, presentations, drawings, songs, or performances.

Learning outcomes

• Greater confidence and fluency in speaking and a broader vocabulary,
• Improved listening, reading, and writing skills,
• A better understanding of English grammar,
• The ability to use English in daily life.

The Canterbury summer program offers 20 General English lessons per week, totaling 16.7 hours, with each lesson lasting 50 minutes. Morning classes run from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The maximum class size is 12 to 15 students, and up to five proficiency levels are available, from Beginner to Advanced.

Teaching approach

St Giles teachers use a communicative approach to engage students and help them learn effectively. Lessons are fast-paced and learner-centered, focusing on communication skills and confidence in using English inside and outside the classroom. Each week follows a theme, such as Global Culture, Music and Festivals, Health and Wellbeing, Sports and Recreation, or Science and Technology. Students learn language and skills connected with the theme and use them in an end-of-week project. Projects can take the form of a film, presentation, drawing, song, or another creative format.

English Plus language options at no additional cost

• Performing Arts, exploring the language of drama, theater, and dance,
• Speaking and Writing, practicing skills such as creative writing, public speaking, and scriptwriting.

English Plus sport options for an additional fee

• Tennis, with five hours of coaching per week from qualified instructors and all equipment included,
• Fencing, with five hours of coaching per week from qualified instructors and all safety materials and equipment included.

Workbooks and graduation

During their stay, students create a workbook that serves as a portfolio of their work, including accomplishments, completed targets, excursion-related work, and records of language learned. At the end of the course, students attend a graduation ceremony and receive a certificate showing their English level and length of stay, together with a full report from their teachers.

• The King's School Canterbury, where St Giles summer courses are held, was founded in 597 AD and is recognized as Britain's oldest boarding school,
• The campus is situated within the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine's Abbey, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites,
• St Giles International was founded in 1955 when Paul Lindsay saved money and rented a small room in Soho, London, to open a school of English. The company has remained family-owned for three generations,
• St Giles received the Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade in 2015, presented by Her Majesty The Queen to CEO Mark Lindsay,
• In 2023, St Giles received the IALCA Lifetime Achievement Award at the Salone delle Lingue in Italy,
• The Canterbury summer program welcomes students from 48 nationalities, with up to 150 students per session,
• Canterbury is one of England's smallest cities and has a history dating back to Roman times. Students can explore the Roman walls, Dane John Gardens, and Westgate Gardens on foot from the campus,
• Past excursions from Canterbury have included football stadiums associated with Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Brighton, as well as the Harry Potter Studio Tour, Legoland, the London Eye, London Dungeons, and Madame Tussauds.

Students are offered residential accommodation on the King's School campus. Room options include single and twin rooms and rooms for four or six students. Shared bathrooms are provided at a ratio of one bathroom per four or five students. The residence also has common areas, including a kitchen, laundry facilities, and a recreation room.

Students receive full-board meals. Hot breakfasts are served from 7:30 to 8:30 AM, lunch from 1:00 to 2:00 PM, and dinner at 6:00 PM in the dining hall on the King's School campus. Students receive a packed lunch during excursions. The menu includes British, European, and vegetarian dishes. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated on request.

Subject list: Academic English, business English, English for the summer, IELTS preparation, Intensive English, Preparation for CPE, Preparation for TOEFL, Preparation for TOEIC, Preparation of CAE and FCE
Activity list: basketball, bowling, disco, football, karaoke, swimming, table tennis, volleyball

Each week includes up to one full-day and two half-day excursions, along with a program of afternoon and evening activities. Each week follows a cultural theme, such as Global Culture, Music and Festivals, Health and Wellbeing, Sports and Recreation, or Science and Technology.

Excursions

Half-day excursions include visits to:

• Dover Castle and the White Cliffs of Dover,
• Canterbury Cathedral,
• Canterbury Tales Experience,
• The Roman Museum,
• Beaney House of Art and Knowledge,
• Rye and Camber Sands,
• Canterbury Sculpture Trail,
• Roman Walls and Dane John Gardens,
• Westgate Gardens and punting.

Full-day excursions may include:

• London, including the Natural History Museum, British Museum, Science Museum, the West End, Notting Hill, and Kensington,
• Hampton Court Palace and Kingston upon Thames,
• Leeds Castle, Maze and Gardens,
• Hastings and Smugglers Adventure,
• Margate Beach.

Afternoon and evening activities

Afternoon activities include pottery painting, archery and falconry, water olympics, rounders, treasure trails, T-shirt and tote bag decorating, engineering challenges, and culture swap picnics. Evening activities include discos, Bollywood evenings, silent disco walks, ghost walks, zombie nights, cinema club, film nights, game nights, capture the flag, pizza parties, cupcake decorating, friendship bracelets, and graduation ceremonies.

Daily routine

Students follow a structured daily schedule with wake-up at 7:30 AM, breakfast at 8:00 AM, lessons from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, lunch from 1:00 to 2:00 PM, afternoon English Plus options or sports, dinner at 6:00 PM, an evening program, room time at 9:30 PM, and lights out at 10:00 PM.

• St Giles International has over 70 years of experience in language education and was established in 1955. The company received the Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade in 2015 and the IALCA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023,
• The Canterbury summer program combines study, recreation, and supervision. Staff live on site and supervise students around the clock, with regular roll calls and a 24-hour emergency phone number for parents,
• The school maintains a general staff-to-student ratio of 1:15 or 1:20 and an excursion ratio of 1:12 or 1:15,
• The school offers programs for students aged 8 to 17. Lessons follow a communicative approach and take account of how different age groups learn,
• Students combine English lessons and language practice with sports and educational activities,
• Students live and study on the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine's Abbey, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The King's School campus was founded in 597 AD and is Britain's oldest boarding school,
• The junior courses welcome students from 48 nationalities. The 2025 Canterbury intake included students from Italy (17%), Turkey (12%), Germany (10%), France (9%), Russia (8%), China (7%), Mexico (6%), Switzerland (5%), and 13 other countries.

Summer English courses are held at The King's School, within walking distance of Canterbury city center. Students study in spacious classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards and receive all necessary course materials. The campus includes a dining hall, student kitchen, recreation room, computer center, and library. Wi-Fi is available throughout the campus.

The school's sports facilities include:

• An indoor swimming pool,
• A sports center with a gym,
• Sports courts and playing fields,
• Tennis courts,
• Outdoor playgrounds.

Students on St Giles summer courses have free access to these facilities. The self-contained campus combines Canterbury's medieval character with modern facilities for young learners.

Additional fees:

• Registration fee,
• Accommodation placement fee,
• Airport transfers from London Heathrow or London Gatwick,
• Optional English Plus tennis or fencing coaching,
• Flight tickets,
• Visa services and fees,
• Services for accompanying children,
• A refundable £80 damage deposit, payable in cash on arrival.

Travel and medical insurance is included in the residential package. Family course students can add insurance for an additional fee.

Extras:

• One way transfer - Gatwick 100 GBP
• One way transfer - Heathrow 120 GBP
• Deposit for a course/programme 100 GBP

Admission requirements for the Canterbury summer program:

• Students must be 8 to 17 years old,
• The minimum English level is A1+ (elementary), and the program accommodates levels from Beginner to Advanced across up to five proficiency groups,
• Students self-certify their current English level at enrollment,
• All students take a placement test on the first morning of lessons. Depending on that week's intake, they are either placed in groups based on their level or in a mixed-ability class with differentiated aims,
• Students from countries requiring a visa should apply in advance. The school can provide confirmation of enrollment for visa applications.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision