Explore Cambridge College Summer School

The Cambridge College Summer School is hosted by Sancton Wood School and gives students the opportunity to live and study in the renowned university city of Cambridge.

Our pre-university experience is designed to inspire students by combining academic studies with professional experiences; developing key knowledge and 21st-century skills that will benefit future studies and career prospects.

At Cambridge College Summer School, students will gain proficiency in their core subject through a series of engaging and challenging academic seminars, lectures and workshops. They’ll also take part in the industry experience programme that will prove invaluable to their further education and beyond. Building relationships and making connections that’ll support future career prospects.

Discover Cambridge College

With its celebrated history and culture, few places can capture your imagination as much as the city of Cambridge. As well as being home to Cambridge University, founded in 1209 AD, the city is also world-renowned for being home to some of the most exciting and innovative tech start-ups. This blend of tradition and innovation makes it one of the most exciting places in the world to study.

Male and female student sat infront of the world map, they are both looking at the camera but have a laptop infront of them
Cambridge Sample Timetable

Download our sample timetable

Discover more about what a typical two-week course at Cambridge Summer School looks like for our students. Please note our sample timetable are given as an example and can be subject to change.

Life on campus

Our Cambridge College Summer School replicates the style of a city university, with teaching taking place at Sancton Wood School and accommodation a short walk away in purpose-built student accommodation.

The school’s recent £10 million campus investment gives students the space for a stimulating learning environment with specialist lab facilities for science, as well as specialist areas for art and drama.

Our programme enables students to maximise their time living in Cambridge with planned social activities to see local landmarks, as well as allowing students free time to independently explore with their new friends. 

Students will love taking in the rich atmosphere of Cambridge, with the historic city centre only a short 15-minute walk away. This places students within easy reach of such breathtaking views as King’s College Chapel, with its intricate Gothic architecture, and punting along the river Cam.

Students also have access to Parker’s Piece, which is one of the largest and best-kept green spaces for sports and activities in the city, and according to local legend, the actual birthplace of football.

Sancton Wood is near Cambridge University Botanic Garden, with other landmarks such as The Corpus Clock The University Museum of Zoology and Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences within walking distance too.

Available Courses

 

Academic approach

SBC goes above and beyond the curriculum through experiential learning. Our students are challenged to use and demonstrate new abilities in a nurturing and encouraging environment. Students have the opportunity to develop 21st-century skills throughout the programmes, with opportunities to develop critical thinking, leadership, communication and teamwork.

Students are actively encouraged to take the initiative, think critically and to cooperate with others to solve problems, simulating what we do every day in a work environment. This is done under the direction of our inspirational teachers.

Additionally, Cambridge students take part in our Industry Experience programme. These sessions are both on-site, in which you will participate in on-campus workshops led by an industry professional and blend practical engagement with immersive learning, and off-site, in which students engage in excursions that complement and broaden our student’s horizons.

We place the student experience at the heart of everything we do; having caring, inspirational tutors with vast subject knowledge and world experience is paramount. We purposefully work with tutors who are not only experts in their subject, but who are highly skilled in bringing the very best out of young people. Teaching is both an art and a science. We go above and beyond to find approachable professionals, with compassion and flair, and whose values align with our own; ensuring a lasting impact that will live long after our students’ final class with us.

Industry Experience

Industry Experience is another highlight of our academic programme, where students take part in a series of workshops and lectures led by industry professionals in their respective fields. The Industry Experience element of our courses provides an insight into the professional dimension of working in their chosen field of study, so that students can make informed decisions as to whether their future career choices are best for them. Everything about SBC’s Industry Experience is designed to have a meaningful impact on the shape of your future and extend the experience beyond the classroom.

Industry Experience

Time To Shine

At the end of each week our students come together to take part in a group presentation ceremony in front of their peers, which we call Time to Shine. These projects are a highlight of the week’s work and give students an opportunity to showcase their learning and development, providing them with the chance to gain valuable experience in practising their collaboration and presentation skills in front of a larger audience.

Cambridge College Programme Highlights

At Cambridge College Summer School, our student experience goes beyond the classroom, with a social programme led by a dynamic and imaginative team of College Mentors. We are confident that our activities and excursions will help form strong personal bonds, build confidence and shape memories that will last a lifetime.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Every evening our enthusiastic College Mentors lead well-being activities and events aimed at creating a socially inclusive collegiate atmosphere. Our vibrant social programme gives students every chance to make new friends besides their classmates; thus improving our students’ communication and teamwork skills, and forging a closely-knit campus community.

Alongside a wide range of traditional team sports, students can choose from a range of other well-being and fun activities such as yoga, art, poetry and creative sessions.

To encourage students to develop their growing independence they are provided with free time (with parental consent) in small groups in which to explore their new surroundings; to make the cobbled streets of Cambridge their own. The city has much to explore, from punting, where they will gently glide past Cambridge’s most famous colleges, Darwin, Kings and Christchurch, to exploring many of the city’s museums.

The end of our student’s adventure with SBC, the programme is concluded with a memorable graduation evening, a time to celebrate all of the achievements over the 2 week programme.

EXCURSIONS

During a two-week course, students will go on two excursions, including an action-packed iconic trip to London, where there will be a variety of activities to suit all interests including a sightseeing walking tour, the British Museum and the National Gallery.

London has much to offer and each year we review and innovate our excursion programmes to offer new and alternative experiences of the capital city. Previous itineraries have included Kew Gardens, London sightseeing and the museums of Knightsbridge and Greenwich. Every London itinerary includes free time to explore and browse the shops of some of Britain’s most famous brands.

This will be followed by a fun and relaxed excursion around Cambridge. Here students will be able to take the day to explore their home city of Cambridge in more detail, with a range of activities designed around discovery and recovery from an intense academic week.

GRADUATION

We’re proud to celebrate our students’ achievements in style with a formal graduation ceremony. At the end of each two-week course the graduation ceremony offers moments of reflection and an opportunity to recognise achievements, both personal and academic, alongside new friends.

A graduation certificate will be presented to students during the special ceremony. We’ll also provide a report outlining all accomplishments while studying with us, along with helpful tips to guide learners in the right direction towards future success. Graduation is often the highlight of many students’ experience. It offers the chance to dress up, have fun and celebrate the amazing friendships that have been formed during their stay.

If I had to describe my experience with SBC, I would immediately say fantastic. I was able to learn a lot of things about a field that I would not learn in school (because I take medicine) and I was able to learn a lot of new cultures and I was able to make friends with a lot of people from different countries that make me a richer person both intellectually and as myself.

Marida, Student

Student support and welfare

The safety and wellbeing of students is our number one priority. We have a comprehensive Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and procedures in place to which all employees, volunteers, visitors, and contractors are obligated to adhere to. Students are accommodated in secure and comfortable accommodations during their stay. Cambridge is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities within the United Kingdom and provides a perfect backdrop to a safe and comfortable college experience.

Each of our college sites is composed of dedicated and experienced College Mentors and Social Welfare Managers to ensure that students have the best possible experience during their college journey. All staff are given extensive training to create an environment where all students feel safe, secure, valued, and respected whilst studying with SBC. These friendly and caring staff are always available to provide high-quality pastoral support and remain on call 24 hours per day.

Free time and supervision

During excursions and local visits, all students with parental consent are allowed free time for up to 2 hours. Students must stay in groups of at least 3, during free-time. Staff will make students aware of the designated meeting place and time, with a designated member of staff who will be given a fixed location so that in the event of needing support, they know where to go.

Students with parental consent Can also sign out of the site campus during designated free-time for up to 2 hours and move freely between their accommodation and Santon Wood School.

All students will be given an SBC Gold Card which they must carry with them when offsite. Gold Cards have details of the emergency number to call in the event of a student becoming separated from their group.


Student Feedback

Our students’ voice is paramount to the college experience and as such we empower our students to shape their own experiences by championing that voice. SBC is committed in our response to student feedback and welcome to student-led initiatives which help us to continue to provide excellent service.

Accommodation

At Cambridge College Summer School students will be allocated to one of our six accommodation blocks, these are all purpose-built with modern facilities. They are located a short walk from the train station and the school and bedrooms are either single or twin rooms. During free-time students have the option of socialising in the on-site common rooms or spending time in Cambridge city centre.

Cambridge College Summer School FAQs

 

Our Awards & Accreditations

  • Summer Boarding Courses - The UK's No.1 Multi-Campus Summer School
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Summer Boarding Courses - The UK's No.1 Multi-Campus Summer School
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PIE Awards Logo
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Prepare your child for a summer of achievement and inspiration

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