Active English — 11 July 2027 start
11 July 2027
Start date; minimum course length is two weeks.
In-person Program
Active English
by St Clare's Oxford Summer School
Active English combines English language learning with sports and arts electives, cultural excursions, and supported opportunities to build confidence with international peers.
Last verified: 8 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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Active English at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
English level A2-C2
Age range / Year group
Ages 9-15
Location / Region
Oxford, United Kingdom
Cost
From £3,870; From £2,220
Duration
2+ weeks
Format
In-person
Language: English
Class size: 12 or 15 maximum
Accommodation: Secure residential campus
Meals: Full board; day-student lunch
Campus experience: Arts, sports, quizzes, talent shows
Tutors / faculty: Professional, qualified English teachers
Lessons: 18 lessons; 17 hours
Excursions: 3 per week included
Active English summary
Active English combines themed English lessons with sports or arts electives and cultural visits. The emphasis is on building confidence through practical language use.
Students learn with international peers in separate younger and older junior classes. Qualified teachers and activity leaders support both classroom learning and excursions.
It suits students who want a varied language-learning experience and enjoy participating in group activities beyond lessons.
What is Active English?
Active English is St Clare's junior summer English course in Oxford. It develops speaking, listening, reading, and writing through themed lessons, with cultural and historical visits extending learning beyond the classroom.
Students choose one afternoon elective each week from Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Football Coaching, and Tennis Coaching. Activities and excursions add opportunities to interact with international peers, supported by qualified teachers and residential activity leaders.
Why Succeed highlights Active English
Classroom preparation connects cultural excursions to English learning, giving visits an educational purpose.
Separate junior age groups and clear class-size limits help families assess the teaching environment.
A weekly choice of arts or sports electives lets students connect language practice with personal interests.
Qualified English teachers, specialist coaches, and accompanied excursions provide concrete support beyond a destination-based summer experience.
Who is Active English for?
Best for
Students who want to grow more confident using English through lessons, shared activities, and cultural visits.
Not ideal if
Your main goal is narrowly focused exam preparation or you prefer a course centered entirely on classroom study.
Is Active English worth it?
Active English is worth considering when confidence and everyday language use matter as much as formal lessons. Its combination of English teaching, electives, and excursions gives students several ways to practice communicating with others.
The main tradeoff is breadth: this is a varied summer experience rather than a narrowly focused study plan. Families should weigh how much the student will enjoy the arts, sports, and group visits when comparing the residential and day packages.
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Cost and what is included
From £3,870; From £2,220; includes Tuition., Activities program., Three excursions per week., Travel insurance., Airport transfers to and from London Heathrow., Accommodation and full-board meals with the residential package., Lunch with the non-residential package..
Accommodation
Secure residential campus
Meals
Full board; day-student lunch
Provider details
Review the St Clare's Oxford Summer School provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
2+ weeks; Oxford, United Kingdom.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Active English need?
Effort level
Moderate, with active participation across lessons and activities.
Best started
Begin family planning several months before your chosen summer start, allowing time to compare packages and coordinate travel.
Main challenge
Using English confidently with new classmates and during unfamiliar activities.
Typical preparation
Compare the residential and non-residential packages with your family's accommodation plans.
Discuss which arts or sports elective you would most enjoy.
Practice introducing yourself and describing your interests in English.
Write down a few speaking, listening, reading, or writing goals to discuss with your teacher.
Useful if
You learn best when classroom study connects with practical experiences.
What do students do on Active English?
You combine themed English learning with an afternoon elective and visits that connect classroom topics to real places. Group activities provide additional opportunities to communicate and get to know other students.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Take part in orientation and discuss your learning goals with your teacher.
- 2
Practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing through themed English lessons.
- 3
Choose one Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Football Coaching, or Tennis Coaching elective each week.
- 4
Prepare for cultural visits in class, then explore Oxford and other UK destinations with staff.
- 5
Join activities such as quizzes, arts and crafts, sports, and talent shows.
Active English dates and deadlines
Upcoming
Active English — 25 July 2027 start
25 July 2027
Start date; minimum course length is two weeks.
Active English — 1 August 2027 start
1 August 2027
Start date; minimum course length is two weeks.
Active English — 8 August 2027 start
8 August 2027
Start date; minimum course length is two weeks.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Active English — 11 July 2027 start | 11 July 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Active English — 25 July 2027 start | 25 July 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Active English — 1 August 2027 start | 1 August 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Active English — 8 August 2027 start | 8 August 2027 | Local | Upcoming |
Eligibility and requirements
Students ages 9-15.
English level A2-C2.
Students from around the world are welcome.
How much does Active English cost?
Residential package
From £3,870 — Includes accommodation and full-board meals.
Funding or discounts
- Non-residential package: From £2,220 — Includes lunch.
What's included
Tuition., Activities program., Three excursions per week., Travel insurance., Airport transfers to and from London Heathrow., Accommodation and full-board meals with the residential package., Lunch with the non-residential package.
How to apply to Active English
- 1
Use the Book Now link on the Active English course page to access St Clare's booking portal.
- 2
For help choosing the course or package, contact the summer admissions team through the summer enquiry form.
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What does Active English cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
English language
Practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing through weekly themes and preparation for cultural visits.
Performing Arts
Explore acting, dance, improvisation, public speaking, and physical theater in coached workshops.
Visual Arts
Explore artistic techniques and media in the art studio or outdoors.
Football Coaching
Develop football skills with professional Football Association qualified coaches.
Tennis Coaching
Develop tennis skills with experienced LTA qualified instructors.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Active English?
A typical day during the program.
English and orientation
Sample morning blocks run 09:00-09:55, 10:05-11:00, and 11:30-12:55 for lessons, orientation, or excursion preparation.
Electives
Thursday, Friday, and Monday show elective blocks at 14:00-14:55 and 15:05-16:00.
Cultural visits
The sample includes an Oxford tour on Saturday, London on Sunday, and Warwick Castle on Tuesday.
Performing Arts
Students choosing this elective practice improvisation, character exploration, and physical theater.
Who teaches on Active English?
Professional, qualified English teachers lead the language classes, while specialist coaches teach sports and arts electives. Performing Arts is delivered by Abie Walton from The North Wall Theatre, football uses Football Association qualified coaches, and tennis uses LTA qualified instructors.
English classes are split into ages 9-12 and 13-15, with maximum sizes of 12 and 15 respectively.
Where do students stay on Active English?
Residential plan
- Campus accommodation: The residential package includes accommodation on a secure campus with facilities and open spaces.
- Full-board meals: Full-board meals are included in the residential package.
- Pastoral support: Caring staff provide strong pastoral care, and residential activity leaders accompany excursions.
- Activities: The activities program includes arts and crafts, quizzes, sports, a disco, and talent shows.
Non-residential plan
- Day-student package: A non-residential package includes tuition, activities, excursions, travel insurance, and Heathrow transfers.
- Lunch: Lunch is included in the non-residential package.
What happens after Active English?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Greater confidence in English speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Experience using English during cultural and historical visits.
Further development of the chosen arts or sports interest.
Teamwork, articulation, and public-speaking practice through Performing Arts.
Elective-specific skills depend on the option each student chooses.
Where does Active English take place?
Active English takes place on a secure residential campus in Oxford, an academic city with a rich cultural heritage. Excursions extend the experience to historical and cultural destinations beyond Oxford, including examples such as London, Bath, and Windsor Castle.
Active English FAQs
Active English accepts English levels A2-C2.
Students learn in separate age groups: 9-12 and 13-15. Classes have a maximum of 12 students in the younger group and 15 in the older group.
Students choose one elective per week from Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Football Coaching, and Tennis Coaching.
Yes. Residential packages include accommodation and full-board meals; non-residential packages include lunch.
Both packages include tuition, activities, three excursions per week, travel insurance, and airport transfers to and from London Heathrow.
Professional, qualified English teachers teach the course. Residential activity leaders lead activities and accompany students on excursions.
The six-hour-per-week Performing Arts elective requires no previous experience or language ability. Students need enthusiasm and a willingness to participate.
The course aims to build confidence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, including language use beyond the classroom.
Alternatives to Active English
Compare these options if your priority is English immersion, an arts focus, or a more adventurous summer experience.
Alternatives to Active English
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Upcoming
English immersion through lessons, workshops, and activities
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13 Jul 2026
From £4095
8-12
Oxford
In-person
Best for
Younger students seeking English immersion
English learning paired with art exploration in Brighton
Art
14 Jul 2026
From £3590
11-15
Brighton
In-person
Best for
Students prioritizing art alongside English
English learning paired with an adventure summer camp
Social Sciences
14 Jul 2026
From £3590
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Brighton
In-person
Best for
Students drawn to adventure alongside English
Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources & verification
Source types reviewed
- Summer Availability
- Payment Methods | St Clare's, Oxford
- St Clare’s Oxford | DELTA course | How to Apply & Fees
- Brochure | St Clare's, Oxford
- St Clare’s Oxford | DELTA course | How to Apply & Fees
- Pre-arrival Information | CELTA | St Clare's, Oxford
- St Clare’s Oxford | CELTA Course | How to Apply & Fees
- Brochure | St Clare's, Oxford
- St Clare’s Oxford | CELTA Course | How to Apply & Fees
- Pre-arrival Information | IB Teacher Workshops | St Clare's, Oxford
- St Clare’s Oxford | IB Teacher Training Workshops | Booking & Fees
- Brochure | St Clare's, Oxford
- Pre-Arrival Information | Admissions | St Clare's, Oxford
- Brochure | Admissions | St Clare's Oxford
- IC Admissions Guide | How to Apply & Entry Requirements
- Pre-Arrival Info | Admissions | St Clare's School, Oxford
- IB Admissions Guide | How to Apply & Entry Requirements
- Brochure | Admissions | St Clare's School, Oxford
- Brochure
- Pre-Arrival Information | Adults | St Clare's, Oxford
- Brochure
- Pre-Arrival Information | Teenagers: Oxford | St Clare's, Oxford
- Brochure
- Pre-Arrival Info | Juniors | St Clare's, Oxford
- Active English | Juniors | St Clare's, Oxford
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 8 Oct 2026)
Official course page reviewed
Age and language requirements checked
Start dates checked
Package prices reviewed
Meal inclusions checked
Teaching and electives reviewed
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Active English
by St Clare's Oxford Summer School
Upcoming
May qualify for the £300 Succeed Programme Award.
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