Padworth College Summer School

At Padworth Summer School, the power of ‘hackathons’ is used to foster student-centred learning and engagement. The Padworth approach integrates these hackathons into the curriculum, ensuring that everything students learn in their Pathways and Elective Projects is centred around the hackathon topic. This holistic approach ensures that students are not only learning theoretical concepts but also applying them in practical, real-world scenarios.

Structured Challenges for Skill Development
Throughout a two-week period, students complete five challenges at Padworth Summer School related to the hackathon topic, each lasting six hours, with the fifth challenge being a company-sponsored hackathon. These initial challenges are designed to build the knowledge and skills needed to confidently develop innovative solutions to the presented problem in the final challenge. By the end of the hackathon, students have not only completed several extended projects but have also gained a deep understanding of the subject matter, enhanced their technical skills, and developed essential soft skills. Furthermore, the university and business partnership visits that students go on during the same two-week period are also linked to the topic, meaning the university talks or interactive workshops they receive continue to support their development of the hackathon topic.

Opportunities for Collaboration and Networking
Another key benefit of Padworth hackathons is the opportunity for students to collaborate and network with experts in the field. Industry professionals are invited to give guest speaker talks and mentor students, providing guidance, feedback, and insights into the latest trends and technologies. This interaction not only enriches the learning experience but also helps students build connections that can be valuable for their future studies and careers.

Padworth’s action-packed cultural excursions and trips programme offers students the chance to connect with each other in a meaningful way, engaging in enjoyable activities of their choice. These encounters play a crucial role in fostering a sense of community, cultivating long-lasting friendships, and creating unforgettable memories.

Excursions to iconic British sites like Oxford and London are a highlight of the Padworth Summer School experience, offering students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in British culture and deepen their understanding of the English language.

Walking through historic university towns, exploring world-renowned landmarks like the British Museum and Buckingham Palace, and experiencing the lively streets of London allow students to engage with English in real-world contexts, reinforcing what they’ve learned in the classroom.

These trips not only broaden students’ cultural perspectives but also improve their conversational skills, as they interact with native speakers, understand local customs, and absorb the rich historical background of the UK.

Evening Activities (Onsite):
Sport of the day (dodgeball, netball, basketball, rounders, badminton, capture the flag etc)
Discos (+UV discos)
Karaoke
Swimming
Pool and table football
E-sports competitions
Mission Impossible challenges
Talent show
Camp fire (with marshmallows)

Optional Trips (Offsite):
Walking
Movie nights
Cinema (£10*)
Bowling (£10*)
Climbing (£12*)
VR Games Experiences (£25*)
Paintballing (£20*)
Go Karting (£25)

Full board accommodation provided, with all dietary requirements catered for (advance notice required). Boarding students live on campus in one of the four boarding houses – Fison, Granary, Ritz and Stables – with separate houses for boys and girls. There are between 15 and 40 students per boarding house and all houses have kitchen facilities and common room areas for student use, with laundry facilities close by. Almost all students benefit from having their own single study bedroom, offering private space, whilst being part of the boarding house family. Bedrooms are clean, comfortable and furnished to a good standard.