You want regular opportunities to speak, listen, read and write in a supportive international environment.
Adventure Programmes
AGES 12–16
English Adventures at Headington Oxford
Spend two weeks building confidence in English through conversation, projects, roleplay and everyday communication. Use the language inside and outside the classroom while sharing the experience with students from around the world.
- No.1 UK multi-campus summer school
- British Council accredited
- 155 nationalities (since 2008)
At a glance
- Fees from
- £4,295 2-wk residential · Day Programme £2,995
- Ages
- 12–16 Adventure Programmes tier
- Start dates
- 12th & 26th July Two-week sessions, 2027
- Class size
- 15 max Students per class
- English level
- All levels A1 to C1
- Academic hours
- 15 hrs Lessons per week
- Location
- Oxford Headington School
What’s included: tuition, accommodation (residential option), meals, excursions, social programme, student report, certificate and student insurance.
Transfer service available for an additional fee.
Is this right for your child?
Build confidence using English every day
English Adventures is a two-week English-language programme designed to develop speaking, listening, reading and writing through practical, communicative lessons. Activities are adapted to the language level of the class.
Students use English to share ideas, work with others, explore cultural themes and complete creative projects while gaining further opportunities to communicate throughout the wider SBC experience.
- Develop speaking, listening, reading and writing
- Learn through conversation, roleplay and collaborative projects
- Use English throughout an international summer school experience
What you'll study
English for communication and everyday life
Lessons develop useful English through meaningful communication. Students encounter grammar, vocabulary and language skills through situations, topics and tasks suited to their level.
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Module 01
Communication in Action
Develop speaking and listening through discussion, roleplay, games and everyday scenarios, building confidence communicating with other people.
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Module 02
Reading, Writing & Vocabulary
Encounter accessible texts, develop useful vocabulary and practise organising ideas in writing for different purposes.
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Module 03
English Beyond the Classroom
Use English through projects, cultural themes and activities connected with the wider summer school experience, helping students transfer classroom learning into communication with others.
The signature experience
Take the stage at Time to Shine
Students work collaboratively on a creative project or presentation, using English to develop ideas, prepare material and practise communicating to an audience.
Time to Shine gives students an opportunity to bring together the English they have developed across the fortnight and share something they have created with others.
- Creative collaborative project developed in English
- Presentation practice that builds communication confidence
Is this programme for you?
Does this sound like you?
Students arrive with different levels and goals, but many recognise themselves in at least one of these.
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You want to feel more confident in English.
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You want English you can actually use.
You want to develop vocabulary and communication for real situations rather than simply completing exercises.
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You want to meet people from around the world.
You want to use English as a shared language while making friends and taking part in an international summer experience.
Sound familiar? This course was built for you
Outcomes
What your child leaves with
English Adventures provides extensive opportunities to practise English through lessons, projects and the wider SBC experience.
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Certificate of Completion
An SBC certificate recognising completion of the English Adventures programme.
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Personalised Report
An individual end-of-course report reflecting participation and progress during the programme.
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Greater Language Confidence
Regular practice speaking, listening, reading and writing in meaningful contexts.
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International Communication
Experience using English to interact and collaborate with students from different countries and language backgrounds.
Independently recognised
The UK's leading multi-campus summer school — inspected, ranked and reviewed to prove it.
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No.1
Ranked the UK’s number 1 multi-campus summer school provider
EL Gazette
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15 / 15
Areas of strength, including student welfare and safeguarding (2018 Inspection)
British Council
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Excellent
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot by families
SBC STAFF
Meet some of the SBC team
SBC staff support students throughout their summer — in lessons, activities and daily life. They help students settle in, grow in confidence and make the most of their time with us, in a safe and friendly environment.
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Natalia Mavromoustaki
MA Careers Guidance, BSc Psychology
As a tutor, Natalia teaches through discussion, activities and real examples. "It's rewarding to see someone grow in confidence or find a real passion. Summer schools let students learn outside the classroom, build confidence and meet new people."
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Cas Slater
Office Coordinator
As Office Coordinator, Cas handles arrivals, departures, excursions and daily site running. "Watching students go from shy and overwhelmed to leading group presentations is inspiring. They get to know themselves, make friends for life and really come out of their shells."
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Olivia Clark
Activity Leader · University of Warwick
As Activity Leader, Olivia runs the daily sports, arts and evening activities. She studies Theatre and Performance at Warwick. "Knowing I played a part in watching students have fun, learn and try new things is very rewarding. You will make friends from all over the world."
Beyond the classroom
Excursions & activities
Some of the fortnight’s most memorable hours happen away from the lab bench — on excursions that showcase the best of UK culture and attractions.
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Excursion
Thorpe Park, London and Oxford
Excursions designed to ignite adventure and curiosity, broaden horizons and create lasting memories.
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Social programme
Multi-activities and specialist events
Football, basketball, tennis, arts and crafts, disco, talent shows, karaoke, punting and many more!
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Time to Shine
Practise presenting in English
Weekly showcases where language turns into performances, broadcasts and displays, building public-speaking confidence.
A day in the life
Always moving. Always learning.
Subject lessons and projects by day, a packed activity programme by afternoon and evening. Here’s how a typical day on English Adventurers at Headington runs — and how each one builds toward the Time to Shine Ceremony.
Roll over a moment in the timetable to see it — and what it’s really like.
Activities
- Arts & Crafts
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Board Games & Puzzles
- Circuit Training
- Creative Writing
- Cricket
- Film Festival
- Football
- Karaoke
- Murder Mystery
- Museums
- Photo Challenge
- Picnic in the Park
- Punting
- Rounders
- Silent Disco
- Taskmaster
- Trashion Show
- Volleyball
- Yoga
Excursions
A sample of what recent groups have done. Excursions vary by session.
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Oxford
Wander through the historic city of Oxford, home to the world-renowned university, stunning architecture, and centuries of academic tradition.
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London
See famous landmarks, visit world-class museums and cultural attractions, take epic photos, shop some big-name stores, and soak up London's unforgettable energy.
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Thorpe Park
Experience the thrills of Thorpe Park, one of the UK’s top theme parks, packed with exhilarating rides and unforgettable adventures.
Safeguarding & welfare
Safe days, settled nights
Sending your child abroad is a big decision. So we start with your child’s wellbeing, and build everything else — lessons, activities, boarding life — around it.
- 24/7 On-site pastoral support
- 1:6 staff-to-student ratio
- 100% DBS-checked, trained residential staff
- 15/15 British Council areas of strength met (based on 2018 inspection)
Accommodation & campus
Live and learn at Headington Oxford
Headington Oxford Summer School is a fast-paced summer built on learning by doing. Through project-based lessons, sports and creative activities, students build confidence, independence and skills like teamwork and problem-solving — with the historic city of Oxford all around them, part of the experience itself.
Everything is on one campus: an indoor swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, dance studio and theatre, plus five comfortable boarding houses with separate accommodation for boys and girls, mostly in single and twin rooms, and staff available for pastoral support.
- Art Studio
- Dance Studio
- Laundry Service
- Lecture Hall
- Modern Dining Hall
- Shared Bathrooms
- Single Bedrooms
- Small Dorm Rooms
- Sports Hall
- Student Common Room
- Swimming Pool
- Tennis Courts
- Theatre
- Twin Rooms
- Wifi
Why SBC
Trusted, accredited and part of Dukes Education
Dates & fees
Two Options. One transformative fortnight.
Whether your child boards with us or returns home each evening, your fee covers everything in their programme. See what’s included with each option below.
Residential
From £4,295
per 2-week course · Boarding — full days plus evenings and weekends
- Full board — all meals & accommodation included
- Multi-activity programme
- Evening activities & excursions
- 24/7 pastoral care
Non-residential
From £2,995
per 2-week course · 09:00–21:00 daily · varies by campus
- Same academic programme as residential
- Lunch & evening meals included
- Full activity programme and excursions
- Return home in the evening
2027 dates
Flexible lengths
2 or 4-week options available
Programme start dates
12th & 26th July
Places are limited and allocated on a first-come basis. Check availability before you plan.
Places can start to fill from spring — book early
Questions
Frequently asked questions
The programme is open to all levels, from A1 (beginner) through to C1 (advanced). You’ll be placed in a class that matches your ability.
Before arrival, you’ll take a short placement test to ensure you’re in the most suitable group.
Just a notebook, pens and your enthusiasm. All course materials will be provided by the school.
Yes. All students receive a certificate of completion, which states the level studied and recognises progress over the two weeks.
All levels are welcome, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1).
All residential staff are DBS-checked and trained, with 24/7 pastoral care and British Council–accredited safeguarding procedures.
No. This is a Summer Boarding Courses programme. We use the facilities at Headington School in Oxford so students can live and study in a prestigious school setting, but the course is designed and delivered by Summer Boarding Courses. Summer Boarding Courses contracts the use of these facilities and has no formal connection with Headington School, and the school does not deliver, partner in, or endorse our programmes.
Explore before you enquire
Take the detail home
No call, no pressure. Just the documents that help you decide — sent straight to your inbox.
Academic Overview
Every module, the learning outcomes and how the programme builds over the fortnight.
Free PDF download
Sample Timetable
A full fortnight, hour by hour — lessons, activities and excursions. Please note that timetables are given as an example and are subject to change.
Free PDF download
Dates & Fees
Full pricing, what's included, and when the programmes take place
IGNITE YOUR SPARK
Arrange a free consultation
Our friendly Student Experience team are happy to answer any questions, big or small, and help you find the best summer experience for your child — no pressure, ever.
What happens after you enquire
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Step 1
We read it personally.
A member of our Student Experience team reviews your enquiry.
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Step 2
You're matched with an advisor.
Someone who knows this course and can answer your specific questions.
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Step 3
We arrange a call.
Phone or video, at a time that suits you, to talk through dates, options and any concerns.
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Step 4
You decide — no pressure.
We help you find the right fit. You book when you're ready.
One student's summer
Emily
Student · Headington Oxford · United Kingdom
Returning for the third time!
Gioia
Student · SBC at Canford · Switzerland
Tremendous development in their English
Carlos
Parent · Portugal
155+
Nationalities represented since 2008
21,000+
Alumni since 2008
№1
UK multi-campus summer school (ranked by EL Gazette)