Adult courses · Ages 16 and over
Combination courses
A group course and private lessons, in the same week, on one timetable. Most students who take one-to-one classes still want the environment of a group course — the other nationalities, the conversation, the people to have lunch with. A combination course gives you both: 20 or 30 group lessons a week plus 5 or 10 private lessons built entirely around what you need. From £625 per week, starting every Monday.
- Lessons
- 25–40Per week
- From
- £625Per week
- Group class
- 8–12Plus one to one
- Start dates
- Every MondayAll year round
Why combine the two
Group courses and one-to-one lessons do different jobs, and neither does the other's.
A group course gives you what a private lesson cannot: other people. Students from a dozen countries at your level, conversation you have to keep up with, and the social side of a language school. A private lesson gives you what a group cannot: a teacher who works only on your problems, at your pace, on whatever you decide matters.
Most students who take one-to-one classes still want the environment of a group course. A combination course is the answer — and it is the most adaptable thing we offer, because the private hours can be pointed at anything.
Mornings
Your group class
Twenty or thirty lessons a week in a class of 8 to 12 students at your level, following the same programme as our General English and Intensive English students.
Grammar, speaking, listening and writing, taught to a group — which means practising with people whose English is not perfect either, which is exactly how it works outside the classroom.
Alongside
Your private lessons
Five or ten lessons a week, one to one, of 45 minutes each. Every lesson is planned for you and your goals, and your teacher works only on what you need.
Timetables for private lessons are flexible and depend on our teachers' schedules, so we arrange them with you once you arrive.
What a week looks like
Swipe or scroll to see more.
Three photos — swipe, drag, or use the scroll bar.
The four packages
Choose your group course first — 20 lessons a week or 30 — then decide how many private lessons to add.
| Package | Group lessons | Private lessons | Total lessons | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combination 20+5GE 20+5 | 20 | 5 | 25 | £625 |
| Combination 20+10GE 20+10 | 20 | 10 | 30 | £895 |
| Combination 30+5GE 30+5 | 30 | 5 | 35 | £695 |
| Combination 30+10GE 30+10 | 30 | 10 | 40 | £995 |
- Includes
- Group course tuition, private lessons, a personalised learning plan, all course materials
- Excludes
- Accommodation, administrative fees
Private lessons are 45 minutes each. Unlike our group courses, combination prices are the same whatever the length of your stay — so if you are booking a long course, ask us and we will work out whether a combination package or a group course with lessons added separately gives you better value. We would rather tell you than let you overpay.
What four weeks actually costs
| Combination 20+5, 4 weeks £625 per week — 25 lessons a week | £2,500 |
|---|---|
| Standard homestay, 4 weeks £225 per week, breakfast and dinner, 7 nights | £900 |
| Registration fee (one-off) | £60 |
| Accommodation arrangement fee | £40 |
| Total | £3,500 |
Build your own total with the fee calculator, or see every price on the fees page.
What to use your private lessons for
This is where the adaptability lives. Your group class follows a programme; your private hours follow you. Some of the things students use them for:
The one thing holding you back
Everybody has one — articles, prepositions, the past perfect, a pronunciation habit from your first language. A group class cannot spend a week on your particular problem. A private teacher can.
Exam technique
IELTS or Cambridge preparation aimed at your weakest paper, with a teacher marking your writing properly and telling you exactly why it lost marks.
Your job
Presentations, professional emails, meetings, an interview coming up — the English you need for work rather than the English on the syllabus.
Speaking confidence
Some students speak freely with a teacher and freeze in a group of twelve. Private lessons let you build the confidence somewhere safe, then use it in class the same afternoon.
You can change direction mid-course
Your private lessons are not fixed at the start and left alone. If your goal changes — an exam date moves, an interview appears, or you simply discover a different weakness — tell your teacher and the plan changes. That flexibility is the whole point of paying for one-to-one time.
The two halves in detail
General and Intensive English
The group half of your combination. General English 20 runs 09:00 to 12:15; Intensive English 30 runs 09:00 to 15:00 with afternoon skills and exam preparation. Classes of 8 to 12 students at every level from A1 to C2, starting every Monday.
See group English courses →One-to-one lessons
The private half. Lessons of 45 minutes, planned entirely around your needs, with your teacher focused on your studies, your job and your goals. Also available as a standalone course, or for a small group of friends or colleagues of up to five people.
See one-to-one lessons →Practical details
| Age | 16 and over |
|---|---|
| English level | A1 to C2 — all levels, including beginners |
| Group class size | 8 to 12 students |
| Lesson length | 45 minutes |
| Start dates | Every Monday, all year. Tuesday when the Monday is a bank holiday. |
| Arrival | Sunday to Sunday. Accommodation covers all seven nights per week. |
| Private timetable | Flexible, arranged with you and dependent on teacher availability |
| Location | Rodney Lodge, 9 Rodney Road, Cheltenham GL50 1HX |
Need somewhere to stay? Homestay from £225 a week including breakfast, dinner and laundry. See accommodation.
Common questions
How much does a combination course cost?
In 2027, Combination 20+5 costs £625 per week, 20+10 costs £895, 30+5 costs £695 and 30+10 costs £995. Group tuition, private lessons, a personalised learning plan and all course materials are included. Accommodation and the £60 registration fee are charged separately. Four weeks of Combination 20+5 with standard homestay comes to £3,500 in total.
When do the private lessons happen?
Private lesson timetables are flexible and depend on our teachers' schedules, so we arrange them with you rather than fixing them in advance. On a 20-lesson combination your afternoons are largely free; on a 30-lesson combination the private lessons sit around the fuller group timetable.
Can I decide what the private lessons cover?
Yes — that is the point of them. Every lesson is planned for you and your goals, and you can change direction during your course if your priorities shift. Tell your teacher what you want to work on.
Which combination should I choose?
Start with the group course. Choose 20 lessons if you want free afternoons for the social programme and the town; choose 30 if you are working towards an exam or want to move up a level quickly. Then add 5 private lessons for focused help on one thing, or 10 if you have a specific goal such as an exam or a job.
Is a combination course cheaper than booking the two separately?
For a short stay, yes. For a longer stay it may not be, because group course rates fall the longer you study while combination prices stay the same. Tell us your dates and we will work out which is better value for you — we would rather be straight about it than have you overpay.
Can I take private lessons with a friend?
Yes. Private lessons can be taken with a small group of friends or colleagues, up to five people. Prices for that are available on request.
Both halves, one week
Reserve a place in about two minutes without paying anything yet. Tell us what you want the private lessons to do and we will match you to the right teacher.
Prices valid for courses starting in 2027. inlingua Cheltenham, Rodney Lodge, 9 Rodney Road, Cheltenham GL50 1HX · +44 (0)1242 250 493 · Last updated August 2026.