Settling in at Earlscliffe: A positive start to the Easter Programme

After a busy first few days, students are now settled into life at Earlscliffe, building friendships, exploring the local area, and enjoying their first activities together.

It has been a full and positive start to the Easter programme here at Earlscliffe, with students now well into their first few days on campus. Following a smooth arrival period, everyone has settled into their houses and quickly begun to find their rhythm, both in and out of the classroom.

The weather has been bright and fresh and a little wet – only on England’s south coast do you need an umbrella AND sunglasses in your bag every day – but it’s all made a lovely backdrop to the first few days in the UK. Students have already had the chance to enjoy the local surroundings, with time spent exploring Folkestone and walking along The Leas. These early moments outside the classroom have helped students feel comfortable in their new environment while getting to know one another more naturally.

There is a warm and friendly atmosphere across campus, with students forming early connections for Easter long bonds. It has been particularly nice to see how quickly friendships have developed between students from different countries, with plenty of conversations, shared activities, and laughter already becoming part of daily life. The Yellow T-shirts (staff) have played an important role in this, supporting students and helping create a relaxed and welcoming environment. We really do feel like a family away from home.

Academically, students have now begun their lessons and are engaging well. Classes have focused on building confidence in communication, with plenty of discussion and group work. Teachers have commented on how willing students have been to contribute, even in these early stages, which is always encouraging to see. There is already a noticeable sense of growing confidence as students become more comfortable expressing their ideas. Our global focus has really helped the multi-cultural, too, with students from Uzbekistan, Belgium, Spain, Italy, France, China, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Ukraine all learning with and from each other.

Alongside lessons, the activity programme has been fully underway. One of the highlights so far has been the trip to Dover Castle, where students explored the historic grounds and learnt more about its significance. It was a great opportunity to experience something uniquely British while spending time together outside of the classroom.

Evenings have also been a key part of these first few days. Activities such as House Night and karaoke have brought students together in a more relaxed setting, giving everyone the chance to have fun and continue building friendships. These moments have helped create a strong sense of community early in the course.

Today, students are continuing to stay active with a padel session, a bit of football and some cool arts and crafts afternoon, giving them the chance to try different sports and team-based challenges. There has been a great level of participation, with students encouraging one another and getting involved. This evening, the group will head out for bowling, which is always a popular activity and another opportunity for students to spend time together in a fun, social setting.

Overall, the first few days have set a really positive tone for the rest of the programme. Students are settled, engaged, and beginning to make the most of everything on offer. We are looking forward to seeing how they continue to grow in confidence and build on these early experiences in the days ahead.