Welfare

Student welfare and supervision is an important part of our summer schools, and all members of staff are required to take an active part in supervision duties. However, we also take on residential Welfare and Social Organisers to ensure that these duties are carried out, and that the needs of all students are catered for.

Welfare Positions
Welfare and Accommodation Managers
Welfare and Accommodation Managers have overall responsibility for the welfare and safety of students. This is a managerial position, and involves supervising others on lights out duty as well as overseeing the allocation of accommodation and transfers. If you've had experience of working in a residential school, are highly organised and have had experience of managing others, this could be the job for you.

Welfare and Social Organiser (WSO)
Welfare and Social Organisers are responsible for the welfare and safety of students in residential accommodation and  ensuring that their needs are met. This is a supervisory position and involves acting as a team leader for teachers and activity staff on lights out duty. They also act as a group leader to students who come without a group leader. WSOs are expected to do night duty on a rota basis, and undertake free time supervision of the students. They may also be asked to take part in the leisure programme. This position is ideal if you have experience of working with children and/or working in a residential environment. You will ideally have good administration skills and be able to organise and manage your own time. Click here to see an example diary.

Transfer Coordinator (at selected centres only)

The Transfer Coordinator is responsible for arranging the transfers of groups from the airport and their return. This is a supervisory role and involves organising coach or taxi bookings, meeting groups or arranging for them to be met, and leading student inductions on arrival at the centre. They will also act as Welfare and Social Organisers when necessary. One of the key requirements is to be able to manage your own time.

The Activity Programme

WSOs may be involved in the Activities programme when needed. This still needs energy, enthusiasm and commitment on your part as a good activity programme has a direct effect on the students' enjoyment of their stay.

Programme Types

The type of study programmes offered at the centre affects the types of work offered. We offer several types of programmes:
Classic Programme
This is the traditional summer school programme, where students have classes in the morning and activities in the afternoon. They also have one or two half-day excursions and one full day excursion per week. This programme represents the majority of courses sold.

Zig Zag Programme
It is sometimes necessary to run classes in the morning and the afternoon. In zig zagging, if a group has classes in the morning one week, the next they will have them in the afternoon. This means that the same activities will run both morning and afternoon.

Choice Programme
Classes and one full-day excursion per week, with the classes in either the morning or afternoon. There is a limited evening activity programme, and daytime activities are limited to two guided walks per week. These courses are usually restricted only actively sold in Central London.

Intensive Programme (offered at Cambridge and London Imperial only)
22.5 hours of lessons per week plus evening activities and a full day excursion each week.

Closed Groups
Sometimes the programme is designed specially for the group. Some government contract groups operate as a closed group e.g. INPDAP courses at selected centres.

Homestay Programmes
Homestay students generally follow the Classic programme, except that they live with selected host families off-site. Homestay students only come in for evening activities twice per week (usually for discos)