Academic Summer Camps for Children and Teenagers age 7-17 in London and Bristol
OUR STORY, OUR BELIEF AND OUR STANDARDS
Our Mission Statement
Academic Summer helps international students learn and use English by exploring the subjects, passions and interests they love. We bring learning to life through experience, adventure and discovery, giving students the confidence to communicate, the skills to succeed and the inspiration to become the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
We are the original and we are still leading
Academic Summer created the UK's first academic summer programme in 2010. When you choose Academic Summer you choose the programme that set the standard. We are not here to keep students busy, we change what they think is possible.
In 2017 we expanded to Canada, loving the extraordinary nature and friendly culture in beautiful New Brunswick. In September 2025 Living Learning English became our sister company, founded by Kate Hargreaves in 1995 and now led by our CEO Helen Lami as Principal, offering year-round one-to-one home tuition for children, teenagers and professionals alike.
We are Academic Summer and we are not apologising for the name
Somewhere along the way academic became synonymous with sitting in a classroom, not having fun and being bored. We are here to change that. Academic does not mean boring, it means serious about your future and potential. Academic does not mean separate from life, it means being prepared for it. Academic does not mean no fun, it means fun that stays with you.
In History, the first Academy was not a classroom. It was a garden outside Athens where Plato walked with his students, debated ideas under olive trees and changed how the world thinks. Learning by doing, learning by debating and questioning, and learning by being fully alive to the world around you. This is what academic has always meant – Learning for life.
Our Standard and Belief: Learning for Life
Academic Summer was founded on a belief that young people deserve better than ordinary and mediocre. Better than a holiday with some English lessons attached. Better than a brand name without substance behind it.
Real English is not learned in a textbook. It is learned by doing real things, in real places with real people. We do not teach English as a subject. We teach everything in English and that changes everything.
We are proudly independent, proudly original and proudly demanding of ourselves and of everything we offer every student who walks through our doors. Quality, safety and real value are never negotiable.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME AS THE CEO AND PRINCIPAL
- Academic Summer was founded on a belief that young people deserve better than ordinary. Sixteen years on that belief has not changed. If anything it is stronger
- To challenge and inspire: every student reaches further than they thought possible and leaves with memories that last a lifetime
- Caring and experienced staff: our management team, teachers and counsellors are selected for their expertise, their warmth and their genuine commitment to every student in their care
- Child protection: all staff hold enhanced DBS checks and background checks and are experienced in working with young people Child Protection Policy
- Exceptional care: safety is paramount. Health, wellbeing and happiness come first in everything we do.
- A tailored approach: every student goes home with a certificate, a detailed report from their teachers and a leadership qualification. You will leave different
- Unforgettable locations: London Westminster opposite the Houses of Parliament. 160 acres of Somerset countryside at Sidcot School. Two extraordinary locations. One uncompromising standard
- Good value: all-inclusive fees including airport transfers and travel insurance, because we believe great education should be accessible and straightforward.
Quality you can trust: Academic Summer is accredited by BAC. In our last full inspection report in 2022 the inspectors gave us no action points or recommendations. This continued in our interim inspection during the summer of 2024. Living Learning English is accredited by British Council for teaching English in the UK.
We care about getting this right, we always have
Helen Lami
CEO & Principal
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
At Academic Summer we believe education is a fundamental human right. It is not a privilege but it is the foundation of everything.
This is why we proudly support Theirworld, a global children's charity dedicated to ending the education crisis and unlocking the potential of future generations. Their values and ours are the same, that every young person deserves the best start in life, a safe place to learn and the skills to build their future.
Today more than 260 million young people are out of school. 75 million children have had their education disrupted by conflict, climate crisis or emergency. On current trends, more than half of all young people will not have the basic skills they need for employment by 2030.
We actively contribute to Theirworld's fundraising events and encourage our whole Academic Summer community to get involved. We also weave social responsibility into our Be a Leader programme, inspiring students to think beyond themselves and act as the global citizens and future leaders they are becoming.
Theirworld focuses on three things and these things are important to us too:
The best start in life
A safe place to learn
Skills for the future
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ACADEMIC SUMMER
