Faqs
The weekly cost of the course covers all accommodation, meals, English lessons, all sports and activities, excursions, internet access and a laundry service as well as airport transfers on Saturdays, between 8am and 6pm to and from Manchester International Airport.
Sedbergh School is renowned for its pastoral care, this is replicated during the ISS. During their stay your child is looked-after by an experienced team of staff including a Houseparent, Assistant House Parent, support staff and the welfare team.
The school provides airport transfers every Saturday from Manchester International Airport, the cost for which is included in the course fee provided that pupils arrive between the hours of 8 am and 6pm. Transfers from other airports may be available upon request for an additional fee. Fees for a one way transfer are as follows:
- Liverpool Airport: £200
- London Heathrow: £450
Transfers from any other airport may be available by separate negotiation.
Your child will be met at the airport by a member of Sedbergh ISS staff wearing a navy blue and gold uniform, holding a sign with “Sedbergh International Summer School” on it. At the end of their stay the school will also escort your child safely to the airport for their return flight.
If your child is travelling as an Unaccompanied Minor, please be aware that arrangements vary between airlines.
Kindly notify us in advance of your requirements. Many airlines now expect an additional payment for any unaccompanied travellers under the age of 16. We will confirm the name and contact number of the member of staff collecting your child just prior to the start of the course. Please note that an additional charge of £75 for each transfer applies.
The course is fully residential. Boys and girls live separately in one of our beautiful boarding houses. The houses are under the supervision of a Houseparent, an Assistant Houseparent and their team. Staff provide a happy, supportive environment for your child during their stay.
Clothing should be casual, practical, machine washable and labelled with their name.
The average temperature during July is between 16 – 23 degrees. However, England can be wet and cool at any time of year and your child should come prepared for both warm and cool weather.
Bedlinen and bath towels are provided but your child should bring a swimming towel with them.
Pupils should bring the following:
- Jeans
- Tracksuit/ Jogging Bottoms
- Shorts
- Long and short sleeved T-shirts
- Warm jumpers/sweaters/hoodies
- Underwear and socks including thicker socks
- Sunhat and beanie
- Sports clothes
- 1-2 items of swimwear
- Clothes for discos and parties
- Clothes for wet/messy activities
- Sleepwear
- Waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers if you have them (especially for Outdoor Adventure)
- At least 2 pairs of trainers (one pair may get wet!)
- Boots/shoes with a small heel if you are likely to be horse-riding
- Comfortable shoes for excursions and activities
- Sliders or other comfortable shoes
- A small backpack for off-site visits
- A mesh washbag with your name on it
- Wash bag and toiletries
Please note: The UK uses 3 pin plugs and the electric voltage is 240v AC, 50 HZ. Pupils need to bring a UK travel adaptor for any electrical items.
Pupils enrolled on Outdoor Adventure will receive a separate kit list in addition to that above.
Three meals are included each day; breakfast, lunch and dinner are taken together in the boarding house dining room.
Drinks and snacks are served in the long morning break between lessons and ‘chocolate time’ happens at the end of each day.
Your child will receive a a packed lunch on excursions days.
We must be informed of any special dietary needs prior to arrival. These can be recorded on the dietary form provided upon receipt of your booking.
Sedbergh International Summer School, occupies two fantastic locations.
Sedbergh is located on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Casterton is a 15 minute drive from Sedbergh on the outskirts of the town of Kirkby Lonsdale. Both sites offer easy access to both the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Both sites are within easy distance of Manchester International Airport.
The closest railway station is Oxenholme, Lake District.
The best and safest way to provide pocket money is with a prepaid cash card (most commonly Visa or Mastercard). Alternatively, pupils may use their phone with a credit/debit card uploaded onto it.
Prepaid cash cards are easy to set up and funds can be pre-loaded by bank transfer. They can be used in the same way as a normal debit or credit card. Pupils will be able to use the card to withdraw money from an ATM and the will be able to use the pre-paid card to pay for goods in shops.
Please note, children be responsible for their pocket money. Sedbergh International Summer School can not be held responsible for the safekeeping or loss of any card whilst a pupil is in residence.
We welcome all levels and abilities on the ISS. The results of the placement test taken prior to arrival ensure that pupils are placed in the correct class for their ability.
Pupils wish to join the LIRA programme require an advanced level of English. Please contact us on iss@sedberghschool.org for further information.
Your child and the other students are divided into age groups, juniors (8-11) and seniors (12-16), for lessons.
Pupils will be asked to complete an online placement test in advance of their arrival. The results of this test will be used to ensure that pupils are placed in a class with boys and girls of a similar age and ability.
Class sizes can go up to a maximum of 20 pupils per class. Larger classes will be supported by another member of staff maintaining staff to pupil ratios of 1:15.
In 2023, we welcomed up to 180 pupils per week from 22 different countries including: France, Germany, Poland, Demark, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Russia, Egypt, Angola, South Africa, Argentina, Japan, China and Hong Kong.
Your child may bring a mobile phone which they can use to call home at specified times of the day.
There are also emergency numbers for any problems on the day of travel and during the course. These will be shared with you just before the start of the course.
We encourage our students to bring a mobile phone, as they are useful for keeping in touch with parents and can be used to keep in touch with staff on excursion days (in case of emergency).
We also ask that pocket money is preloaded onto their phone for use during their stay.
If your child does not have a mobile phone, they can contact you from our office if necessary.
At Sedbergh ISS we are very keen for our students to socialise and make friends and therefore all students must hand in their mobile phones to their House Parents at night when going to bed, and keep them in their boarding house during lessons, break and mealtimes. Phones seen by staff during prohibited times may be confiscated for a short time.
All linen (sheets, pillow and pillow case, duvet and duvet cover) is provided. Your child should bring their own towels. Clothes are laundered twice a week and bed-linen is changed once a week.
Please ensure that:
- all clothing is machine washable
- every item is clearly marked with the student’s name.
As some nationalities tend to book quite early and we have a policy of only allowing a maximum of 20% of each nationality it is good to book as early as possible.
Please follow the link to the GOV.UK website to find out if your child will need a visa to attend Sedbergh International Summer School.
In the event that a Visa is required, please contact us at iss@sedberghschool.org and we will be able to provide you with a letter confirming your child’s visit to the UK in order to study at Sedbergh International Summer School.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at iss@sedberghschool.org
