What is Discover 12-17?
A summer programme where younger learners build English confidence, make friends from around the world, and discover new independence in a safe and supportive environment.
Learn English. Live Adventure. Discover Your Future.
Discover is a fun and engaging summer course for young learners aged 12-17 from beginner level. Based in Frensham, the programme offers 15 hours of English lessons per week taught by qualified teachers with expertise in working with children. The course takes a thematic language-learning approach encouraging team building through sports and group activities while exploring themes such as Living Green, Exploring Creativity and Feeling Good. Lessons and activities work together to build confidence, communication and collaboration, allowing students to develop their English naturally while having fun with others. With a maximum of 15 students per class, children learn in a safe, personalised environment while enjoying a range of sports, activities, and exciting cultural excursions.
Student Experience
Typical Week
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15 hours of English lessons
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1 full day & 1 half day excursion
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full-board with 3 meals per day
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daily activities & weekly excursions across UK
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graduation ceremony
How Students Grow
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improve their spoken English through daily interaction and classroom communication
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increase their English vocabulary across a range of topics
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try new sports, activities and group challenges
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make new friends from around the world
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feel more prepared for studying in an English-speaking environment
Safety & Welfare
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dedicated house parents and pastoral care in each boarding house
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safe & supportive boarding with keycard entry
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24/7 supervision
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1:5 adult-to-student ratio
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DBS checks for all staff
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on-site medical support
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emergency contact line
Landmarks that shape global minds
Excursions
Students can choose from our Excursion Menu, which includes destinations such as London, Bath, Cambridge and Windsor. Each trip offers a mix of walking tours, visits to cultural landmarks and time to explore with friends. Our excursions are designed to be enjoyable, social and culturally enriching, giving students the chance to experience different parts of the UK while having fun and making memories.
Available excursion options include:
• Roman Baths
• Windsor Castle
• London Eye
• Shakespeare’s Birthplace
• Cambridge Punting
• Tower Bridge
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included every day, including excursion days. Meals are served as hot and cold buffets with options for all dietary needs. Students eat together in a communal dining hall with staggered timings during peak times.
There is weekly laundry and room cleaning.
• Your smartphone
• A towel
• A hairdryer
• A travel adaptor (for the UK – it is different to the rest of Europe)
• Clothes for rain eg a raincoat, umbrella
• Clothes for sports/activities eg shorts, t-shirt, trainers
• Comfortable shoes for walking on excursions
• Nice clothes for graduation
• Toiletries: shampoo and conditioner, shower gel/soap, toothpaste and toothbrush
• Sunglasses, suncream, sun-hat
• A mesh laundry bag
• Spending money: we recommend bringing a pre-paid debit card. We recommend not to bring cash. Most shops in the UK are cashless now
For your travel to the UK, we recommend you bring:
• snacks for the plane and the airport
• water
If you are not travelling with a group/Group Leader, please send a photo of yourself to younglearners@ihlondon.com so we know what you look like. This photo will be stored privately on our Head Office system.
Shared transfer (London Heathrow only):
One of our Young Learner members of staff will be waiting for you in arrivals. They will be wearing a bright orange t-shirt with International House London Young Learner Centres logo on it. They will take you to the waiting area. There will be water and a snack if you are hungry. When all the students have arrived, they will take you to the coach, which will take you to your centre.
The shared transfer coaches leave the airport at 12:00, 15:00 and 19:00. If there are delays in immigration and you miss one coach, you will travel on the next one.
Private transfer (taxi):
If you have booked a private transfer, IHL staff (in orange t-shirts) will meet you in arrivals and take you to the taxi. Our staff may not travel in the taxi with you. All our taxi drivers receive security checks and are trusted partners.
Private transfer (group coach):
Our staff will meet your group and take you to the coach.
Please note that we our meet and greet airport teams work from 09:00 to 19:00. If you are arriving earlier or later than these times, please contact younglearners@ihlondon.com for instructions.
Unaccompanied Minor Service:
If you are under 15, your airline may ask you to travel as an ‘Unaccompanied Minor.’ This is a special service, and we will send you a document before you travel with our IHL staff information: please bring this document with you. On the plane, the airline staff will give you special care and attention. When you arrive, they will take you to the airline desk where you must give the IHL document. They will call our staff who will come to collect you.
Transfer time:
Oxford – Transfer time from London Heathrow Airport to Oxford will take
approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
Frensham – Transfer time from London Heathrow Airport to Frensham will
take approximately 1 hour 15 mins.
Any questions?
Get in Touch
Spaces fill fast, start planning your child’s summer today! Complete our contact form or speak with a course advisor over the phone, email or a video call. We are always happy to answer your questions and our team will get back to you as soon as they can.
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