Junior courses · Ages 11 to 17
School Holiday Camp
A week of English, activities and trips for students aged 11 to 17 during British school holidays. Designed for international students already studying at a state or private school in the Cheltenham area, so they have somewhere to be when school closes for half term or Easter. Each week includes 20 English lessons, two excursions and four afternoon activities, with full board homestay accommodation included. The price is £850 per week.
- Age
- 11–17All levels
- Each week
- 20 + 6Lessons, trips and activities
- Per week
- £850Full board included
- Minimum
- 4 studentsNeeded for a week to run
Why this exists
British schools close for around thirteen weeks a year, and those weeks are not evenly spread. A student on a State School Placement of a term or two will meet at least one half term and possibly Easter while they are here — and term breaks are not covered by the placement price.
That leaves families three choices for each break: fly home, join our School Holiday Camp, or — for students of 16 and over — take an adult General English course. This page is the second option.
The camp is also open to any international student aged 11 to 17 studying at a local state or private school, whether or not they came through inlingua Cheltenham.
State School Placement
Study alongside British pupils at a state secondary school in Gloucestershire, with full board homestay and daily school transport included. Ages 11 to 18, level B1 and above, from £695 a week. The page also carries the full Gloucestershire term calendar.
See State School Placement →What a camp week looks like
The pace is deliberately gentler than a summer programme. This is a school holiday, and students who have been working hard in British lessons all term need some of it to feel like a holiday.
20 per week
English lessons
A chance to consolidate what they have picked up at school — grammar they have been using without quite understanding, vocabulary they have absorbed but never practised.
4 per week
Afternoon activities
Bowling, sport, arts and crafts, quizzes and games with other international students, run by our activity staff.
2 per week
Excursions
Trips to local destinations. Cheltenham sits near Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, Bath, Bristol and the Cotswold villages.
Adding a private tutor
If your child wants to work harder rather than lighter — preparing for an exam, or catching up on a subject they are finding difficult at school — one-to-one lessons can be added to the week. Ask us for a price.
I enjoyed the class and learning new things. Junior student
When the camp runs
Camp weeks follow the Gloucestershire school holiday calendar. Below are the holiday periods for the next two academic years and how many camp weeks are available in each.
Academic year 2026/27
| Holiday | School closed | Camp weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn half term | 26 – 30 October 2026 | 1 |
| Christmas | 21 December 2026 – 1 January 2027 · No provision | — |
| February half term | 15 – 19 February 2027 | 1 |
| Easter | 26 March – 11 April 2027 · bank holidays 26 & 29 March | 2 |
| Spring half term | 31 May – 4 June 2027 · bank holiday 31 May | 1 |
| Summer | From 22 July 2027 · Summer Camp instead | — |
Academic year 2027/28
| Holiday | School closed | Camp weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn half term | 25 – 29 October 2027 | 1 |
| Christmas | 20 December 2027 – 3 January 2028 · No provision | — |
| February half term | 14 – 18 February 2028 | 1 |
| Easter | 8 – 23 April 2028 · bank holidays 14 & 17 April | 2 |
| Spring half term | 29 May – 2 June 2028 · bank holiday 29 May | 1 |
| Summer | From 24 July 2028 · Summer Camp instead | — |
Term dates published by Gloucestershire County Council. Academies and voluntary aided schools may set their own dates, so check your child's school calendar and tell us the exact week you need. Where a bank holiday falls in a camp week, there are no lessons that day and the programme is adjusted, usually with an excursion or activity instead.
Two things to know before you plan
Each week needs a minimum of four students to run. Tell us your dates as early as you can — the earlier we know, the more likely a week goes ahead, and we will always tell you honestly if numbers are short so you can make other arrangements.
There is no provision over Christmas. Schools close for two weeks, inlingua Cheltenham closes from 19 December to 2 January, and hosts have their own Christmases. Students on a placement spanning Christmas should plan to travel home.
Somewhere to be, and people to be with
The practical value of the camp is obvious: your child is looked after, in an English-speaking environment, during a week when school is shut. The less obvious value is social.
A student on a term-long school placement is usually the only international student in their year group. That is excellent for their English and occasionally lonely. Camp weeks put them back among other students from other countries who are doing the same thing they are — and that turns out to matter.
Price
One weekly price including full board homestay accommodation — all meals, seven days a week.
| Programme | Accommodation | Lessons | Trips and activities | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Holiday CampSHPTU | Full board standard homestay | 20 | 6 | £850 |
- Includes
- 20 lessons per week, two excursions, four afternoon activities, full board homestay accommodation
- Excludes
- Administrative fees, airport transfers
What a camp week costs
| Already with us on a State School Placement Registration and accommodation fees already paid | £850 |
|---|---|
| Booking the camp on its own, 1 week £850 plus £60 registration and £40 accommodation arrangement | £950 |
| Booking the camp on its own, 2 weeks at Easter | £1,800 |
Airport transfers are extra where needed — £450 return from Heathrow, with £100 each way more for unaccompanied minors under 16. Returning students do not pay the registration fee again, so ask us if your child has studied with us before. See the full price list.
If the camp is not the right fit
General English — for students aged 16 and over
Older students can join our adult group courses during a school break instead. General English 20 in the mornings from £375 a week, or Intensive English 30 with afternoon exam preparation from £455. Classes of 8 to 12, starting every Monday.
See group English courses →Summer Camp
For the long summer holiday, our full international summer camp runs from 5 July to 16 August, with 20 lessons, 12 activities and two excursions each week, half board homestay and all administrative fees included at £1,045 a week.
See Summer Camp →Common questions
Who is the School Holiday Camp for?
International students aged 11 to 17 who are studying at a state or private school in the Cheltenham area and need somewhere to be during a school holiday. Most come to us through a State School Placement, but the camp is open to any local international student in that age range.
When does it run?
During Gloucestershire school holidays: the autumn and February half terms, Easter and the spring half term. There is no camp over Christmas. For the summer holiday we run our full Summer Camp instead, from 5 July to 16 August. Exact dates for the next two academic years are in the tables above.
How much does it cost?
£850 per week, including 20 English lessons, two excursions, four afternoon activities and full board homestay accommodation. Booked on its own, a £60 registration fee and a £40 accommodation arrangement fee are added, bringing one week to £950. Students already with us on a State School Placement have already paid those fees.
Why does it need four students to run?
A camp week needs enough students to make a class and an activity group work. Below four, we cannot run the programme as described, so we tell you honestly and early rather than running something thin. Booking early is the best way to make sure a week goes ahead.
Can my child stay with the same host?
Usually yes, if they are already on a State School Placement — the full board homestay simply continues through the camp week. Tell us your dates when you book so we can confirm with the host.
What English level does my child need?
Any. Students are grouped by level for the lessons. Because the camp mostly serves students already at a British school, most arrive at B1 or above, but that is not a requirement.
Can my child study more intensively during the week?
Yes. One-to-one lessons can be added to any camp week, which suits students preparing for an exam or catching up on a school subject they are finding difficult. Ask us for a price when you book.
Tell us which weeks you need
Because each week needs four students, early notice makes the difference between a camp running and not running. Reserve a place in about two minutes without paying anything yet, or email us your dates.
Prices valid for courses starting in 2027. Term dates from Gloucestershire County Council, checked August 2026. Last updated August 2026.