What Is a Summer School?

Imagine spending part of your summer in the historic halls of Oxford University or a prestigious British boarding school, surrounded by new friends from around the world as you dive into a favourite subject.

It sounds inspiring, doesn’t it? That’s exactly the kind of opportunity a summer school offers. But what is a summer school, and why do so many families consider it a valuable way to spend the summer holidays?

In this post, we’ll explain what a summer school is and explore the many benefits of attending one. Whether you’re a student looking for an enriching summer experience or a parent seeking opportunities for your child’s academic and personal growth, read on to discover how a summer school can make the holidays truly unforgettable.

What Is a Summer School?

A summer school is an educational programme that takes place during the summer holidays. Compared to a full school term, a summer school usually runs for a relatively short, intensive period – often a couple of weeks in July or August. These programmes are designed to help students learn and develop beyond the confines of a typical school year.

Summer schools can be organised by universities, colleges, prestigious boarding schools, or specialist education companies. They aren’t about being stuck in boring, traditional classes; instead, they’re usually exciting, enriching experiences focused on exploration and growth. A good summer school will be inspiring, interactive, and profoundly memorable.

At a summer school, students attend classes, workshops or practical sessions during the day, much like at school – but the content is often very different from normal lessons. Many summer schools are focused on just one subject or theme, allowing students to focus on the things that really get them excited.

The teaching style is typically engaging and tailored to enthusiastic young learners. One of the cool things about summer schools is that you don’t have to follow a strict, conventional curriculum. What do you do instead? Well, the world’s your oyster. On a science summer school, you could be blowing things up in the lab (under careful supervision, of course!) or dissecting an animal heart. If you’ve picked a leadership summer school, maybe you’ll debate global issues with your peers, or get mentored by CEOs and diplomats.  

Summer schools come in various forms to suit different needs. Some are purely academic enrichment courses that give high-achieving students a taste of university-level material. Others are pre-university tasters designed to prepare older teens for university life. There are also career-focused programmes – for example, trying out what it’s like to be a doctor or an engineer for a week – and even summer schools that mix learning with fun activities similar to a holiday camp.

Many programmes are residential, meaning students live on campus in dormitories (often getting a first taste of independence away from home), while others are day programmes. Importantly, all these summer schools share a common goal: to provide a supportive, engaging environment where students can learn new things during the summer holidays in ways they might not experience in their regular school.

Academic Benefits of Attending a Summer School

If you’re wondering ‘what is a summer school’, you might also want to know what the benefits of attending are.

One of the biggest reasons to consider summer school is for the academic advantages. A good programme can be an excellent way to enhance your learning beyond the standard school curriculum:

Dive Deeper into Favourite Subjects

Summer courses let you explore topics you love in greater depth. If you’re fascinated by physics or coding, for instance, a summer school might let you work on exciting experiments or programming projects that go beyond what you’d cover in class. This kind of deep dive can fuel your passion and keep your mind sharp over the holiday.

Explore New Fields

A summer school also offers the chance to try subjects that aren’t available at your school. Curious about law, architecture or medicine? There are programmes that introduce you to these fields. You might even discover a new passion that influences what you choose to study later on.

Learn from Expert Teachers

Summer schools often employ experienced teachers, university lecturers, or industry professionals to lead classes. Learning from these experts can be truly inspiring. They bring specialist knowledge and a fresh approach – imagine being taught engineering by an actual engineer, or literature by a published author! Small class sizes and workshop-style sessions also mean you might get more personal feedback and mentorship than in a normal school setting.

Boost Your University Applications

For older students, the academic rigour of summer school can really stand out on university applications. It shows admissions tutors that you’re motivated and willing to challenge yourself. Plus, you’ll have interesting experiences to talk about in personal statements or interviews – like spending two weeks at a Cambridge summer programme conducting lab experiments, which certainly makes for a memorable talking point.

In short, summer school isn’t about slogging through the break with textbooks; it’s about supercharging your learning in a fun, focused way. The knowledge and skills you gain can give you a real advantage in your schoolwork and lay the groundwork for future success at university and in careers.

Personal Development and Social Perks

Academic gains are just one part of the picture. Summer schools also offer tremendous personal development benefits. In fact, many students find that the life skills and friends they make are just as valuable as the academic lessons.

Stepping into a new environment and rising to fresh challenges naturally builds confidence and independence. Just a few weeks away from home (in a university college or boarding house) gives a foretaste of university life. You learn to manage your own schedule and take care of daily tasks yourself. Many parents notice that their children come back more self-assured and responsible.

Another big perk is the chance to meet new people and make friends from all over the world. Summer schools typically bring together students from many different countries. Learning alongside peers from across the globe is an incredible opportunity to discover new cultures and perspectives while bonding over shared interests. In fact, many alumni say the friendships they form are the best part. Just imagine coming home with close friends from every corner of the world.

Beyond the classroom, a good summer school will offer a packed schedule of social activities and excursions to add to the fun. Shared adventures – whether sports tournaments, talent shows or group outings – help break the ice and develop your teamwork and communication skills. You learn to get along with new people and to share living space with peers – all essential life skills for the future.

Crucially, all this happens in a supervised, supportive environment. There are always staff and mentors on hand, so the experience is a safe one – giving parents peace of mind and students support whenever needed. By the end of your summer school experience, you’ll likely have grown not just academically but also in confidence and maturity, which is fantastic preparation for that eventual step up to university.

For more information, check out our article ‘Is summer school fun?’.

Preparation for University and Careers

Summer school can also give you a head start on your future goals – including university aspirations and even early career exploration. For many students aged 15–18, this is a key attraction. Think of a summer programme as a springboard that launches you into the next stage of your academic or professional journey:

Experience University Life Early

Some summer schools are hosted on university campuses, allowing you to live in student accommodation and attend classes in real lecture halls. At Dukes Plus, for instance, we have programmes hosted at Oxford University and University College London (UCL).

Experiencing campus life – dining in halls, studying in the library, exploring a university town – can make the idea of university far less daunting. You’ll come away with a clearer sense of what university is like, and probably extra motivation to reach that goal.

Gain Clarity on Careers

Some providers offer career-focused courses – for example, try being a doctor, engineer, journalist or computer scientist for a couple of weeks. You might get a taste of the real tasks that those professionals do every day, or meet industry experts who share insights about their jobs. Experiences like these can ignite a passion or help you decide if a particular career path is right for you (before you commit to related university courses).

Strengthen University Applications

Attending a respected summer school shows initiative and a willingness to challenge yourself. It also gives you great material for university applications. You could discuss a research project you completed or how you collaborated with international peers on a presentation.

Experiences like these also make excellent material to discuss in your personal statement and at interview. Admissions teams will be impressed by your proactive attitude to learning and the maturity you have shown in reflecting on your experiences.

Dukes Plus Summer Schools – A World of Opportunities

Dukes Plus summer school programmes are a great example of this all-round approach. We’re the UK’s number 1 multi-campus summer school. Our programmes take place at prestigious school and university locations such as Oxford University, UCL, and Eton College. Every year, our students find that there is no substitute for the thrill of learning in these world-famous environments.

What sets Dukes Plus apart is the wide range of programmes on offer, each designed to nurture academic, personal, and professional development for students aged 8–18. Whatever your interest or goal, there’s likely a course that fits. Here are just a few examples:

English Language

Our range of English language summer schools are perfect for students from all over the world who are seeking to improve their English. With a range of options for all ages from 8 to 17, we can cater for all levels of ability, from beginners in English to more advanced students.

Our summer schools are hosted at some of the UK’s most prestigious boarding schools in Oxford, Kent and Dorset. As well as intensive English lessons with experienced teachers, we offer a packed social programme full of engaging activities in the evenings.

University Preparation

Our pre-university summer school is suitable for students aged 16-17 who are considering an application to universities in the UK, US, or anywhere else in the world. This programme provides an intensive crash course in how to increase your chances of success.

From shortlisting appropriate universities and courses to mastering the personal statement and impressing at interview, our university applications experts will help give your application an edge. You’ll also develop outstanding independent study skills which will set you up for success once you arrive at university.

Business

Aspiring to a successful career in business? Our range of business summer schools can help make your dreams a reality. Our programmes are available for a range of ages, from budding entrepreneurs aged 11-15 to older students planning to study Business at university.

Learn from business experts and successful entrepreneurs, master the theory and then put it into practice in challenging projects, and design and pitch your own business ideas.

These are just a few options – Dukes Plus also offers summer courses in medicine, law, science, journalism and many more. Every programme features high-calibre teaching (often by experts in the field) and plenty of activities beyond the classroom.

Our philosophy is to balance deep learning with a once-in-a-lifetime social experience, so students get the best of both worlds. Dukes Plus has earned a reputation for delivering life-changing experiences. And importantly for parents, each programme is delivered in a well-supervised setting.

Conclusion: What Is a Summer School?

So, what is a summer school? We hope we have shown that it is so much more than just lessons during the holidays – rather, it’s an opportunity to learn, grow and be inspired in ways that regular school might not offer. From boosting academic skills and strengthening university applications to gaining independence and making friends from all over the world, the benefits are rich and varied. For many students, attending summer school becomes a cherished and pivotal step in their academic journey.

Ready to plan an unforgettable summer? Explore Dukes Plus’s summer schools to find the perfect programme for you or your child. Each course delivers academic challenge, personal development and plenty of fun. Don’t let the summer go to waste – your summer school adventure awaits!