About
us
Residential English Language Courses
Vacational Studies Courses have been running for 35 years. We
have tried in this time to develop an enjoyable balance between
vacation and study.
Course Director
Ian Mucklejohn - who, as the Director, co-ordinates the Schools
- was born in London. He is a graduate of the University of
London with an Honours Degree in English Language and Literature,
is an Associate of the College of Preceptors and a Fellow
of the Royal Society of Arts. He has had many years experience
in teaching. He is a published writer. He is the founder of
Vacational Studies and has three seven year-old sons of his
own.Accredited by the British
Council
Vacational Studies is ‘Accredited by The British Council’
and is a member of English UK - formerly ARELS (The
Association of Recognised English Language Services) - a
professional body, membership of which is granted only after
thorough inspection by The British Council and re-inspection
every four years. We were last inspected in 2007 and are
Accredited until March 2012.What we try to do
Vacational Studies tries to create a totally international
Course with students from as many different countries as possible.
We avoid accepting a large number of students from any particular
country. In this way we try to ensure that English is the
main medium of communication among the students. By using
English not just as a school subject but as a living language,
we hope our students will realise better its importance and
value. Our students want to use English to make friends. This
element of self-motivation greatly increases their fluency.
The emphasis on the practical use of English
is combined with a full sports, entertainment and excursion
programme helping young people to learn English internationally.
But it is more than this...Residence
The Courses are all fully residential.
Students eat, sleep and receive classes in the Schools.
The Students
We accept boys and girls near-beginners,
intermediate and more advanced students aged 11 to 17. Complete
beginners are not accepted because they cannot participate
in an international community. The Courses are sports-orientated
and encourage good social development in a community situation.
Students who will benefit
Please make sure that our Course is
suitable for your child and that he/she wants to come. Those
who will benefit and we enjoy having with us will be internationally-minded,
interested in English, outgoing, gregarious and able to function
independently. They will also be willing to accept the constraints
of community living. We consider it so important that our
standards and expectations are understood and accepted that
we ask parents to confirm that they and their children have
read the rules and that they agree to abide by them. A slip
sent with the rules is provided for this purpose.
How they will benefit
We hope that our students will learn
a great deal of English, make good friendships and develop
a positive international feeling. As well as formal study,
we concentrate on the holiday aspect of the Course. While
we try to involve students in all activities, we naturally
respect the wishes of those who like to read quietly or be
with friends. Over the years, we have built up an excellent
reputation with parents and young people all over the world.
Many boys and girls spend several summers with us renewing
old friendships and making new ones. Most students come to
us on personal recommendation. The numbers on the Courses
are deliberately kept quite small so that the staff can get
to know everybody and treat each young person as an individual.
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"He really enjoyed
his stay. He tells us he would like to go back next
year..... We have already had a small reunion in our
house. We are also impressed by the reports from school.
It's obvious that the students have had the staff's
attention."
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