Travel

 

Our 2012 Courses begin and end on a Wednesday.

It is quite usual for our students to fly alone. 90% of our students arrive and depart in this way. There are many cut-price air ticket offers. The cheapest tickets are to be found on the airline’s web site, NOT by phone and NOT via a travel agent. We operate a collection and return transport service between Heathrow Airport and the School on arrival and departure at no charge, subject to the conditions. We shall operate our free collection service for flights arriving at Terminal 1, Terminal 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 from 12.00 to 16.00 on 11 July and free return service to check-in students on outgoing flights departing from Heathrow Terminal 1, Terminal 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 from 09.50 to 13.00 on 8 August. We shall arrange a taxi/minibus service at cost with known drivers for collections/returns that are not part of our free service. If flights arrive earlier than 12.00, students wait for our staff near the Information Desk. If flights leave after 13.00, we explain the procedure and take students to wait in the correct area.

For young children (under 12), airlines operate an ‘Unaccompanied Young Persons (UYP)’ or ‘Unaccompanied Minors (UM)’ service on request and look after them. As airlines insist on a named person meeting and returning a child and that the person remains until the flight has departed, parents should note that if they request UYP or UM service, all UYP or UM departures before 09.50 or after 13.00 must be by taxi at cost. The driver is known to us and has been working with us for many years. He will meet students and check them in personally. It is normally unnecessary for older students to be booked to fly UYP or UM. Airlines (especially British Airways) are very helpful with young passengers at any age.

Our free standard service cannot be used when arrival is later or departure is earlier than our stated dates or times, or if the flight is via Gatwick, Luton or Stansted, or if a student is booked to depart as UYP or UM outside our requested times. We can make special taxi or minibus arrangements on your behalf. We do not charge for making these arrangements, but the cost of the taxi or minibus is payable by the student. (As a guide, a one-way taxi for one person to Heathrow is about £105 and to Gatwick about £130. For two or more people, the cost is shared). Special requirements should be indicated on the Application Form and details sent separately.

We ask parents to communicate travel arrangements on our ‘Agreement and Travel Details‘ form.

At the airport

Before travelling, we send an identity badge and luggage tags to ensure quick recognition. Our representatives will carry blue Vacational Studies’ folders and will meet students at the entrance to the Arrivals Hall after leaving the Customs Hall. Staff collecting students on 11 July will be contactable on these UK phone numbers:- Terminal 1 – 07810 313993; Terminal 3 – 07879 077777; Terminal 4 – 07901 996592; Terminal 5 – 07867 571967.

If you do not take our standard collection/return service, but we make other arrangements for you, the same procedure applies.

If you come by car

Come to The Mary Hare School at RG14 3BQ.  Road directions are given after the School’s’ address. Parents bringing students are asked to arrive at between 12.30
and 14.30. Parents collecting students on the last day are asked to arrive before 11.00.

Clothes and possessions

Notes and advice on what to bring and other information will
be sent to parents and students in advance.

On arrival at the school

All money is handed in at the Office for safe keeping. Students
can withdraw money every day. We keep passports and tickets
safely. We cannot accept responsibility for pocket money or
valuables not handed to us.

On the first day

On request, students will be allocated to a returning student
who will act as a guide, explaining the layout of the building,
the way the Course runs and answering any questions.

SCHOOL ADDRESS AND DIRECTIONS

The Mary Hare School[click for map]
From London, follow M4 to Exit 13 (Newbury). Leave M4 and follow signs to ‘Services’, then ‘Donnington’. Continue for 2 kms. The Mary Hare School is signposted on the right.
Address for students’ letters:
The Mary Hare School
Newbury Berkshire RG14 3BQ.
Telephone (to contact Course Manager):
National: (01635) 244221 International: +44 1635 244221 (Only 10.07.12 – 08.08.12)
Payphone (for students):
National: (01635) 244261 International: +44 1635 244261

The telephone numbers and address given above are only for use during the Course. During the rest of the year, please
use our Newbury Office address and telephone numbers detailed
in ‘Contact Us‘.

Directions by rail
By train from London, leave from Paddington Station. Arrive at Newbury Station. There are normally taxis at Newbury Station. If not, there are taxi numbers in the phone box near the Station.

Visits to the school
Visits to the School outside the Course dates may be made only by appointment through our Newbury Office.