Faqs
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 can provide airport transfers from all major UK airports. Transfers from Manchester and Liverpool international airports, are included in the fee. Transfers from other airports are available upon request for an additional fee.
Your child will be met at the airport by a member of Sedbergh ISS staff wearing a school shirt and holding a sign with “Sedbergh International Summer School” on it. At the end of their stay the school also takes your child safely to the airport for their return flight.
For Unaccompanied Minors, as arrangements vary between airlines please notify us of the individual requirements. Please be aware that many airlines now expect an additional payment for any unaccompanied travellers under the age of 16. We confirm the name and contact number of the member of staff collecting your child just prior to the start of the course. However please note that an additional charge of £50 for each transfer applies.
Sedbergh is located Casterton is a village located near the town of Kirkby Lonsdale. Casterton is approximately a 90 minute drive from both Manchester and Liverpool city centres and their international airports.
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 and a Matron which ensures a happy and 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 18 – 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 is provided but your child should bring both a bath towel and a swimming towel with them.
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 specific airport transfers.
Your child can bring cash with them which can be kept safely in the Summer School office and withdrawn at a certain time each day. You may also choose to make a direct payment for pocket at the time of booking and we will have the money ready for your child’s arrival.
Three meals are included each day; breakfast, lunch and dinner are taken together in the dining hall.
Drinks and snacks are served in the long morning break between lessons and ‘chocolate time’ happens at the end of each day. Y
our child is given a packed lunch on excursions. We must be informed of any special dietary needs prior to arrival.
There is also a tuck shop on site selling additional snacks, sweet and drinks.
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.
Your child and the other students are divided into age groups, juniors (8-12) and seniors (13-17), for lessons. When your child arrives they will complete a placement test which ensures that they are placed in a class with boys and girls of a similar age and ability.
Your child may bring a 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 which is sent to you just before the start of the course.
In 2022, we welcomed up to 80 pupils per week from 16 different countries including: France, Germany, Demark, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Egypt, Russia, Ghana, Japan and Hong Kong.
The class size never exceeds 15 students and are often smaller than this.
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.
We welcome all levels and abilities on the ISS. When your child arrives they undertake a placement test to ensure they are placed in the correct class for their ability. Our senior courses, LIRA and IELTS require an advanced level of English. Please contact us on [email protected] for further information.
We encourage our students to bring their mobile phone, as they are useful on excursion days (in case of emergency) and for keeping in touch with parents. However, 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 will be confiscated for a short time.
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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]
A laundry service is provided throughout the summer school.
Laundry is collected from the boarding houses on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and returned clean the same day, usually in the evening. Beds and towels are changed on Saturdays – we ask that students remove their bedding on Saturday mornings before breakfast.
These are then changed for clean sheets. Bath towels are provided, and we recommend children bring their own towel for swimming.