Teenage Group English Courses

Our teenage courses are designed to the same high standards as our adult courses, but with the syllabus tailored to the needs and interests of younger learners and of your group. The focus is on speaking, listening and vocabulary development, using lively, stimulating materials which are specifically designed for teenage learners. At all times, the emphasis is on the students' active use of English and developing their conversational skills.

Our experienced, well-qualified teachers are carefully chosen for their suitability to teach this age group and their enthusiasm for working with younger learners. Teaching materials provide plenty of variety and include coursebooks, worksheets, video and audio resources. 

For our courses, we accept groups of students from the age of 11 to 16, and we need a minimum of 10 students to form a group. Contact the College for advice. Courses are available all year-round*. All groups must be accompanied by one group leader for every 10-15 students.

The students from your group will be placed together in classes which are limited to a maximum size of 15, which ensures personal attention and good interaction between students.

For safeguarding purposes, our teen students are taught in closed groups separately from our adult students.

Please note that our standard syllabus can be adapted to your group's specific interests, and we will be happy to discuss any special requirements with you.

The classrooms that teenagers use are spacious, each equipped with a computer to support modern teaching methods, and designed to provide a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere for teenage learners. We also provide a common room, where students can relax between classes. The facilities include a pool table, board games, table football, wii, a TV and a small student library. There is also a garden, which is a pleasant space to use in warm weather.

*Please note that the College closes for Christmas from 18 December 2023 to 5 January 2024. 
The following dates are bank holidays in the UK, and no lessons take place on those days: 

• Monday 28 August 2023

Teenage school group courses include, as standard:

• tuition (15 or 21 hours per week) and all learning materials (closed-group classes, maximum 15 per class)
• a programme of social activities and accompanied excursions (see programme)
• welcome file and information pack
• shared homestay accommodation (2-4 per homestay, single or twin-bedded rooms depending on availability)
• full-board (packed lunch provided)
• return transfers to and from a London airport
• complimentary homestay and course (if a suitable course is available) for one group leader per every 10-15 students
• end-of-course College certificate
• College registration fee

Click here to request a quote

We want all our students to feel at home when they are studying in the UK, but perhaps for our younger learners, who may not have travelled without their families before, it is particularly important.

All our homestay hosts are safety-checked according to UK government guidelines, and are well aware of the needs of teenagers. In many cases, they will have had personal experience with teenagers of their own! This is a wonderful opportunity to practise English with native speakers in a natural environment and to experience the British way of life.

All our homestay accommodation is within walking distance of the College, and students will stay in comfortable shared accommodation with at least one other from their group. There will always be an adult present when the students arrive home after school or activities. Bathrooms will usually be shared with other members of the homestay.

Safeguarding and Welfare

Your teenagers' safety and well-being is of paramount importance, and we take our responsibilities as a service provider very seriously. Safeguarding procedures and regulations include:

• Full adult supervision by DBS-checked staff at all times while on school property, from 08:30 am until 17:00 minimum
• Full adult supervision by DBS-checked staff on all social activities
• DBS requirements for all adult homestay providers
• Strict curfews after daytime programme and evening activities: 17:30 latest return to homestay in the afternoon, and 22:00 in the evenings
• Full safety and homestay induction on day of arrival
• 24-hour school emergency number provided to students. Please note that students must keep their mobile phones switched on and be contactable at all times
• Compulsory attendance on all social activities, unless permission is given by the College or the group leader(s) in cases of illness.

Find out more about our care of under 18s.

Our activity programme is an important part of the students' time here, and we take great care to ensure that there is an excellent variety of afternoon and evening activities to cater for all tastes. A typical programme includes a varied mix of sports, music, local culture and sightseeing.

As standard, we include an afternoon trip to a local town/city of interest (the most popular being the vibrant city of Canterbury) and a full Saturday day trip to London.

All activities are accompanied by at least one member of staff from Hilderstone College (depending on the size of the group). Evening activities take place after the students have had dinner with their homestay hosts.

It is our aim to finish all activities no later than 21:30, and families will be notified in advance if there are any exceptions to this.

Transport is included for activities outside easy walking distance from Broadstairs.

We have many activities available. A typical programme may contain a selection of the following:

• Afternoon activities: orientation tour, sports, coastal walking, town trail, skating, mini-golf, etc.
• Evening activities: karaoke, film, games, bowling, folk dance, cultural talks, disco, etc.
• Half-day and full-day excursions: Canterbury, Dover Castle, London, Cambridge, etc.

15-hour tuition programme

21-hour programme