Academic English Summer School & Year-Round Programme

The Scholar English programme at Newbury Study Hall runs every week of the year, with full boarding on campus in Newbury, Berkshire.

There are no fixed start dates and no fixed end dates. Pupils can arrive any week and leave any week – the programme itself runs non-stop all year. They may stay for one week or for a full term — whatever fits their situation.

Who Comes to Us and When

We serve two groups of pupils, and both are welcome every week of the year.

International students coming from abroad

Many pupils come to us directly from their home country. Summer is the most popular time, but the programme runs at Easter, Christmas and throughout the rest of the year as well. Pupils who want more than one or two weeks with us — or who want a full term of academic English — are welcome to stay for as long as they need.

Pupils already at UK boarding schools

UK boarding schools have frequent breaks throughout the year. Every one of those breaks is an opportunity to join us. Pupils come to us during the summer holidays, at Easter and Christmas, during half terms, and on exeat weekends. Some pupils join us every holiday throughout the year. Others come for a single week to focus on a specific skill or project.

In both cases, pupils board on campus, follow the same programme, and are part of the same academic community.

What is Scholar English?

Scholar English is not a standard language course. It is a serious academic programme.

It develops the skills, knowledge and confidence that leading schools and universities expect. These include academic writing, critical thinking, research, debate and presentation. Pupils also build a broad, deep knowledge base across many subjects.

The programme is intensive. Each day has five structured sessions. Pupils read, write, research, discuss and present — every day, across the whole week.

What Happens in a Typical Week?

Every morning begins with a walking tutorial. Pupils and their tutor think through a question together — in philosophy, science, history, psychology or another field. This is followed by a seminar based on the previous evening’s reading.

Each afternoon includes a writing workshop. Pupils write in different styles and genres — essays, reports, articles, reviews and speeches. They then present their work and explain their decisions to the group.

Other lessons across the week include:

Book Club — pupils read a book overnight and defend their understanding in a formal viva the next morning
Great Debates — structured debate on real questions in law, ethics and politics
Poetry Club — memorisation, recital and analysis of well-loved poems
Scholars’ Scripts — pupils study and perform expert academic dialogues
Arithmetic — short daily sessions to build numerical confidence and fluency
Readers’ Theatre — dramatised readings of Shakespeare and other classics
Research Projects — every pupil works on an independent research project throughout their stay

Content is drawn from twenty-four subject areas, including science, law, economics, literature, psychology and philosophy. Pupils learn to connect ideas across subjects — the way university students and professionals do.

Who is it For?

Scholar English is designed for ambitious pupils aged 13 and above who want to perform at a higher level — in school, in exams and in university applications.

It is particularly suitable for:

international students preparing to enter UK boarding schools or universities
pupils already at UK boarding schools who want to use every holiday productively
pupils who want stronger academic English and greater intellectual confidence

Language support is built into every lesson. Teaching is adapted to the level of each pupil. The programme challenges strong pupils and supports those who need more guidance.

Progress & Assessment

Tutors monitor every pupil’s progress daily. Academic language tests are taken at the start and end of each week. All students produce a research project each week.

On leaving, every pupil receives:

a certificate of overall achievement
certificates for specific accomplishments

Boarding & Campus Life

All pupils live on campus in single ensuite bedrooms. All meals are included. Activities and weekly excursions are arranged throughout the programme.

Newbury Study Hall is part of the OISE group. The school is British Council accredited.

Fees: £2,440 per week, inclusive of tuition and full boarding.

Every Week of the Year — Arrive Any Week, Leave Any Week

International students	UK boarding school pupils
Summer	Summer holidays
Easter	Easter & Christmas
Christmas	Half terms
Any time of year	Exeat weekends