Page 18 - ELG2202 Feb Issue 479

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SUMMER SCHOOLS

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guide
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A parent’s guide to the best
How to read our rankings and what it all means, as explained
by Melanie Butler

ummer is when the majority of students travelling to learn
English abroad are under the age of 18. So, when ranking
summer schools, it’s important to pay particular attention to
Sthe areas that parents worry about. After all, they’re almost PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK
always the ones paying for the trip.
Are my children safe? Are my children having a good time? Are my
children learning any English? Out of the 15 areas inspected by the
British Council, we focus on the six areas which we felt were most
important to parents.
Next, we checked our database for all the schools that ran summer
courses for under-16s, because that’s the age group for which the rules
on safeguarding, as the protection of children is called in the UK, are
the strictest. We took out any school that didn’t have any under-16s
enrolled when it was inspected, because teaching and safeguarding
can only really be judged when they’re taking place.
We also took out any provider who was judged as needing
improvement in one of the key six areas.
We ended up with just over 50 summer course providers who scored Parents want to know their children are safe and having fun as
strengths in at least three of the areas we’re highlighting in our ranking well as learning English
and we’ve grouped them according to their scores, with those who have
six out of six at the top and those with three out of six at the end. What do we learn? Well, unsurprisingly, schools that score very
Within each box we put providers in order of their ranking across highly in our ranking of all schools score well for young learners, but
all 15 areas inspected. For example, Summer Boarding Schools is some course providers which have an average score of between four
in the top 1% of schools inspected in 15 areas overall, so it’s placed and six areas of strength out of the full 15 inspected do very well in
just ahead of Broadstairs and Discovery, both of which are in the top the areas critical to young learners. That includes boarding schools
3% overall. As you’ll see, though, all three score in the top 10% in our like Rossal and Padworth, and activity course specialists like PGL
young learners ranking. and Kingswood.

18 February 2022