Home or Away: Which Summer School Is Best for You?

Staying local or flying abroad both work; what matters is what you want from your summer. Start with your goals: Do you need rock-solid academics, a first taste of independence, a new language, or a stronger CV? Be honest about budget, time, and how far you want to push your comfort zone.

In brief: Home keeps your support network close and your costs down, so you can focus on learning without jet lag or logistics. It’s easier to balance part-time work, clubs, or family plans, and you can build contacts where you’ll actually use them during term time. If you’re testing a subject or want results without the travel stress, home can be a smart power move.

In brief: Away turns the world into your classroom—new culture, new friends, new confidence. You’ll learn to navigate a city, manage yourself, and see your subject from global angles (bonus if there’s language immersion). It’s pricier and takes more planning, but if you’re hungry for rapid growth and unforgettable stories, abroad can be a turbo boost.

Home: types of camps

Day camps suit very young campers who benefit from familiar routines: they spend full, activity-packed days in sports, arts, and STEM, then head home each evening. They’re a gentle first step into camp life, with close family contact and simple logistics.

Camps in Detail

SBC Oxford Day Camps (ages 6–12, London & Oxford) — Format: Day camp (Mon–Fri). Focus: English immersion with sport, arts, and STEM. Facilities: Modern classrooms, sports halls, outdoor spaces. Timing/Fees: Announced seasonally (fees TBD). Best for: First-timers and families near London/Oxford who want an English boost without overnights.

Astro Space Camp (ISSET, ages 7–12, King’s College London) — Format: Five-day day camp (Mon 26–Fri 30 May). Focus: Hands-on STEM—rockets, Mars landers, solar-oven builds—with live Q&As with NASA astronauts. Facilities: University labs and large classrooms. Fees: £299 for the week. Best for: Space-mad experimenters who love practical science.

Heathfield Multi Activity Camp (girls, UK) — Format: Day & Residential (est. 1993). Focus: Swimming, tennis, watersports, performing arts, plus optional academies. Facilities: Pool, sports pitches, studios, safe residential houses. Fees: Day typically from ~£60/day; residential priced separately. Best for: Girls seeking a classic UK camp experience with flexible day/boarding options.

Barracudas: High Wycombe Day Camp (Wycombe Abbey) — Format: Day camp, standard hours ~08:30–17:30 (early/late clubs available). Focus: Multi-activity plus performing & creative arts. Facilities: Extensive grounds, fields, halls, and studios. Dates/Fees: Vary by week and season. Best for: Active kids who like variety and performance.

SuperCamps: Royal High Bath Prep School (Bath, ages 4–5, 6–7, 8–12) — Format: Day camp, book by the week. Focus: Multi-Activity plus Specialist Courses (LEGO® Play, Take the Stage). Facilities: Sports halls, playgrounds, dedicated classrooms; end-of-week showcases. Fees: From £275/week. Best for: Families near Bath; kids who love creative building or performing.

Here is a quick look at some day camps in the UK that are for youngsters

Away: types of camps

Residential (Away) camps give children a safe, structured “first taste” of independence. Unlike day camps, these sleep-away options come with 24/7 pastoral care, clear routines, and big-on-fun evenings—think cabin life, supervised adventures, and new friends from around the world. The picks below span different formats (boarding campuses, live-aboard adventures, and homestays) and typically start from younger ages, so families can choose the right mix of support, challenge, and cultural exposure.

Camps in Detail

Bromsgrove International School Thailand (Bangkok, Thailand) — Format: Residential on a full boarding campus. Ages: 7–15. Focus: English enrichment + sports, STEM, arts, leadership with international peers. Facilities: Modern classrooms, labs, sports complex, boarding houses with 24/7 pastoral care. Best for: First-time overseas boarders who need strong support and variety.

Heathfield Multi Activity Camp (UK) — Girls — Format: Residential (also has day). Ages: Primary to early teens (girls). Focus: Multi-activity: swimming, tennis, watersports, performing arts; optional academies. Facilities: Pool, pitches, studios, safe residential houses on a classic boarding-school campus. Best for: Younger girls who want a gentle residential start with excellent supervision.

Sea & Island Adventure Camp (Corsica, France) — Format: Residential/live-aboard yachts. Ages: 12–17. Focus: Sailing and Mediterranean exploration with mountain excursions and cultural visits; teamwork and leadership. Facilities: Modern 45-ft yachts plus shore activities and support crew. Best for: Adventurous first-time boarders at the lower end of the age range (12–13) who love the sea.

Gstaad Leadership Camp — Switzerland (ages 7–17, Gstaad) — Format: Residential sleep-away (1–3 weeks, July–August). Focus: Leadership growth through expert-led workshops, team challenges, and alpine adventures (hiking, glacier expedition, via ferrata). Facilities: Secure mountain base with professional guides, classrooms/workshop spaces, and full pastoral care. Fees: From CHF 4,200. Best for: Adventurous young leaders who want confidence, resilience, and real-world teamwork skills in the Swiss Alps.

Junior & Senior English Plus Activities — AICOL (ages 6+, Gold Coast, Australia) — Format: Homestay-based residential (1–10 weeks, flexible weekly starts). Dates: 22 Jun–31 Aug. Focus: Quality English classes in small international groups + daily activities (beach trips, wildlife/theme parks, surfing, national parks). Accommodation: Carefully vetted Australian homestay families or private rentals for full cultural immersion. Facilities: Modern language classrooms, supervised excursions, placement testing by age/level. Fees: From A$420 per week (tuition; length-dependent). Best for: Younger learners and families seeking a safe, sunny English-immersion summer with flexible durations and built-in adventure.

Here is a flavour of some of the choice residential summer camps

Day camps keep skills sharp close to home; residential camps deepen resilience in a safe, 24/7 setting. Either path can be right—best is to match the experience to your child’s readiness.