Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Anyone with dc doing a summer school this year?

31 replies

DrMadelineMaxwell · 26/07/2018 10:55

Dd is. She's usually q reserved so when she suggested it, I jumped at the chance to help her go. It's in London and we live in N Wales, so it's a small holiday for her sister and I as well as school for her at UCL.
She's enjoying it, thankfully. She's met new people and the nature of the summer school itself can only help her gain experience and confidence ready for applying for University.

OP posts:
TheThirdOfHerName · 26/07/2018 21:25

DS2 is booked to go on one in August (Debate Chamber).

Original poster
DrMadelineMaxwell · 26/07/2018 22:39

It's the debate chamber that dd is at this week. Smile

OP posts:
user1499173618 · 27/07/2018 08:37

DD is doing Debate Chamber in August.

TheThirdOfHerName · 27/07/2018 10:18

DS2 doesn't know anyone else who is going, but is passionate about this subject, so is really looking forward to it.

We live just outside London so he'll be travelling in on the tube each day (less than an hour's journey).

Original poster
DrMadelineMaxwell · 27/07/2018 11:14

Dd didn't know anyone else at all, which has been great. On arrival it was all very organised. They were split into different coloured group's and given a folder for their group with their reading material and their timetable in. There was reading homework for her subject (history) for some nights and a bit of prep required on the Mon night for what they were doing Tues. Handily there was no homework wed evening as we had a show booked that night.

Dd has really enjoyed it.

OP posts:
tibni · 27/07/2018 16:50

My dd is just back from summer school at university in Finland and had a fab time.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 27/07/2018 17:00

How do you find out about them OP?

user1499173618 · 27/07/2018 17:32

Jilted - our DCs have done lots of summer schools over the years and I have mostly found out about them by googling eg “leadership programme for teens”, “art summer school”, “science summer school”, etc

TheThirdOfHerName · 27/07/2018 17:42

@DrMadelineMaxwell
Thank you, that is useful to know as he has ASD and likes to know what to expect. On the first day he is thinking of bringing a notebook, a pen and a packed lunch. Do you think there's anything else he should bring?

JiltedJohnsJulie · 27/07/2018 17:43

Thanks user Smile

Original poster
DrMadelineMaxwell · 27/07/2018 20:48

Dd sent me the link after her sixth form college shared the details with them.

Dd only brought the things you mentioned @TheThirdOfHerName and hasn't said she needed anything else.

Registration is very clearly signposted with banners outside the building.

OP posts:
TheThirdOfHerName · 13/08/2018 10:14

Just dropped DS2 off in Bloomsbury. The building they use for registration is across the road from the halls of residence where I lived in my first year at university.

Original poster
DrMadelineMaxwell · 13/08/2018 18:44

I liked the vibe of that area. Hope he enjoys it as much as DD did.

OP posts:
Au79 · 13/08/2018 22:30

Mine has one that seems to be a recruiting thing for a very prestigious uni that could do with more state school students. So pleased that she was picked, and that she has determined to do it as she is very reserved, especially with strangers. Whether she goes to said site of dreaming spires in the end, doesn’t much matter to me, if it boosts her confidence that is enough at the moment

TheThirdOfHerName · 13/08/2018 22:32

That sounds great Au79

Au79 · 13/08/2018 22:41

I used to send her and sis on summer camps of all sorts all the time as I had to work in August, and only recently she told me how much she hated them! At least this one is daytime only. She especially hates school trips- I would have killed to go on any of these things as a kid or teen! Go figure.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 13/08/2018 22:44

I worked on summer school for my uni (which also needed more state school applicants) and had so much fun. Ours were fully funded and targeted at areas of very low participation. I don’t know if those budgets are still there as this was mid 2000s, but I hope so as I think the sixth formers got a lot from it.

BubblesBuddy · 14/08/2018 17:50

I am finding the summer school participation somewhat perplexing.

My DN would like to do a science one at the end of y12. Parents both have degrees but don’t earn huge amounts. Are separated so trying to maintain two houses and co parent. Not a high take up of HE where they live but DN will be at one of the best comps in the city for 6th form and it does have high achieving pupils because it’s in a more affluent part of the city. Therefore no qualification for Sutton Trust it would appear. However, parents don’t have £££ spare and some of the summer schools are very expensive.

Is there any university that offers a week for around £350-400 for a science summer school? I’ve seen unbelievable prices for Oxford but there must be others. I can see why there is a shortage of state pupils where parents have modest incomes.

evenstrangerthings · 14/08/2018 17:55

Debate Chamber courses run at less than £500 for a non residential week. My DS (Y12 going into Y13) just did the Mathematics one. They are held in London but my son mentioned that some students came down to London for the week with a parent and stayed in a hotel.

Original poster
DrMadelineMaxwell · 14/08/2018 19:57

DD was history not maths, but did the Debate chamber one this year. It cost £495 for the 5 days none residential.

She's very reserved, but hoping to apply to Cambridge. So when she showed an interest in it, it was worth the cost to allow her to attend. It did cost quite a bit as it also meant train fares and a hotel room for the week, but DD2 and I did the sightseeing while she was in the college.

She was enthused by attending and really enjoyed it. And of course, it will be good for her personal statement. It was a stretch, but we felt it was well worth it and would do it again when DD2 is that age although she says she's not interested at all at present .

OP posts:
TheThirdOfHerName · 14/08/2018 20:12

DS2 is at Debate Chamber this week. He takes a packed lunch and is commuting from home by tube, so additional costs are minimal. He is passionate about Physics and is loving the opportunity to study it all day every day.

He has only ever attended state schools but doesn't meet any of the other criteria for the Sutton Trust or similar summer schools.

The expensive residential summer schools are beyond our budget, but I'm happy to save up and pay £500 for a week. I partly see it as a way of rewarding the exceptional effort he put in for his GCSEs.

Serin · 14/08/2018 20:18

Yep!! In the past our DD completed an ALRA drama course (£300 non residential).
This year DS1 did a weeks "try health professions" course for free at Edge Hill uni. (Residential) and DS1 is currently at Lancaster Uni doing a weeks computing course for free (also residential) this was organised by the Smallpiece Trust.

Serin · 14/08/2018 20:19

Eton college does rowing courses for around £500.

BubblesBuddy · 14/08/2018 21:32

The problem is that if you have to book a hotel to stay with DC, that’s a big chunk of holiday money on top of the course. Food for thought! It’s certainly flagging up that “jams” struggle to buy elements of a ps for their children.

thesandwich · 14/08/2018 21:51

www.etrust.org.uk/headstart-inspire-ris Do lots of stem summer schools.
Also quite a few unis do taster days- Cambridge, oxford, Manchester to my knowledge.