Introduction
Since
1975 we have been helping young people come to England for the purpose of improving
their English. I, Peter Barnes, as a qualified teacher of many years' experience
have a very thorough knowledge of the British educational system and have contact
with a large number of schools. What we can offer is usually of interest to pupils
who have reached 16 and who are interested in attending the Sixth Form of a British
school. The Sixth form is the name given to the part of the school that caters
especially for students aged 16+. We can, however, make arrangements for younger
pupils.
Certainly the best way for young people to improve their ability
to speak and understand the English language is to spend a period at a full-time
school in England. Whilst some students like to come for just one school term
- approximately 14 weeks - quite a number opt for a full academic year from September
to July with a few staying even longer. Since it is possible to prepare for public
examinations such as GCSE, "A" levels and the International Baccalaureate
(IB) it means that students may acquire suitable qualifications which will often
permit them to enter a university in either their own country or England. It is
worth mentioning that European students who gain the necessary "A" levels
or the IB Diploma become eligible to apply for a place at a British University.
The
two main choices available are:
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Factors Influencing Your
Choice
If
you consider that your child would prefer the freedom of living with a friendly
family then you should explore the idea of a day school. The arrangement we offer
which involves a state-day school and host family is the least expensive option
and offers excellent value for money. Moreover it provides an ideal opportunity
to become involved in a local community.
If you consider that your child
is the type of person who would enjoy living with other students in a disciplined
and regulated environment, then the possibility of a boarding school should be
considered. You then have the choice of one in the state system or the private
sector but it must be noted that there are comparatively few boarding schools
in the state system. For generations, England has been recognised as having the
finest boarding schools in Europe and some of the well-known independent schools
- often termed Public Schools - have built up good reputations based on traditions
which prove very attractive to pupils and their parents.
Schools in England are noted for the high standard of pastoral care that they provide for their students. No matter how large a school might be, a student is always allocated a tutor to whom he/she may refer when perhaps requiring advice or guidance.
When students attend day schools they live with host families who are very carefully chosen to ensure that they give their guests real care and support. Students are treated as members of the family and we expect them to enter into everyday family life. An important feature of our guardianship is that we are available to sort out any problems that cannot be resolved at school or with the host family. With such a hierarchy of care, students are protected and there is always somebody to whom they may turn if they are experiencing difficulties.
All boarding schools provide excellent pastoral care in the form of house parents, matrons, and tutors. Schools welcome regular contact between parents and staff, and visitors are always very welcome. We have arranged a number of very successful stays with excellent boarding schools and are in a position to make reliable recommendations.
A worry that many parents have is what happens to their child if there is a problem involving perhaps the host family or the school. Our guardianship service is such that we take over the responsibility of caring for the welfare of your son or daughter. If they have a problem they may contact us at anytime when we will be pleased to help. Moreover, the schools and host families know that they are free to contact us if they are aware of any difficulties. It is interesting to point out that most schools in the UK will not accept an overseas student unless he/she has an appointed guardian or the benefit of a guardianship services such as we provide.
The majority of students commence their attendance at the beginning of September which is the start of the Academic Year in England. However, as the year is divided into three school terms in which there is a half-term holiday of one week, it is virtually possible for students to start their attendance at the beginning of any term. The majority of schools prefer students who can stay for a minimum of two terms - approximately six months - since it is generally considered that it takes such a period for pupils to effect a marked improvement in their ability to speak and understand English.
The
majority of students from overseas will find that their life at school in England
will be rather different from that in their home country. One question which is
always asked, concerns school clothes since it is well-known that many schools
in England require their pupils to wear a prescribed uniform. Whilst most schools
insist on the wearing of a uniform it is now becoming quite common for students
of sixth-form age (16+), to be allowed to wear their own choice of clothes, providing
extremes are avoided.
You
may find that the choice of subjects offered is different from your own school
but it is usually possible for all students to choose a course of study that will
enable them to continue with their general education and of course, improve their
ability to speak and understand English. We always tell our students that they
should be prepared to compromise when it comes to selecting a programme of study
since it can never be fairly expected to come from a different country and find
exactly the same on offer in a school in England. The staff at the schools we
use, make every effortto guide pupils into making the right choices and the work
of each individual is carefully monitored. Occasionally a student may choose a
subject and perhaps after two or three weeks feel that it was the wrong choice.
In such cases the majority of schools are very flexible and will permit a change
of subject to be made.
Students
interested in music, sports and drama will usually find excellent facilities for
such in most schools in England since they are generally part of the basic curriculum.
All schools offer good sports facilities and it is rare to find a school that
does not have an orchestra and a drama group.
Students often ask about
pocket money arrangements. We recommend that the best way to manage such is to
open a bank account at one of the major banks. It is then possible for parents
to deposit a sum of money which the pupil may draw on by the use of a card from
a hole-in-the-wall cash dispenser. No charges are made by the banks for operating
such an account so it is a very secure way of dealing with pocket money.
Students living with families should not expect hotel conditions. They will gain
far more from their stay if they join in with the general life of the family.
For example, offer to set the table for a meal, take the dog for a walk, perhaps
with any young children in the family etc. The more a student mixes with the family
the better will be the improvement in speaking English.
We are fortunate
in having a large number of friendly host families on our register who are prepared
to give a warm welcome to a young person and help to make their stay as successful
and pleasant as possible. We pride ourselves on the quality of host families we
can provide since we know that they contribute greatly towards the success of
any arrangement where the student is attending a day school.
It is best to make application as soon as possible since most schools have only a limited number of places that they can allocate to foreign students. Moreover, early application helps us to do our best for a student, especially where a host family is required. In exceptional cases, we are always prepared to make a very late application for a place to any of the schools on our register and have often been successful. An application can either be made provisionally online (go to Online Application) or by post (go to How To Contact Us).
Some students feel that it is a good idea to practise their English before commencing attendance at a school and much confidence can be gained by living with a family and attending morning classes. If you are interested in such a stay we can introduce you to an excellent language school where it is possible to follow a short course of study combined with enjoying a few excursion and leisure activities.
UK-German
Connection - Bilateral government initiative for school and youth links
See
the Advice section (below resources) on the Good
Schools Guide
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