How to choose a good summer school
If teaching is more important than saving money or accommodation being included, the first thing to do when choosing a summer school is to avoid actual summer schools altogether. If I was in the same position of looking for a few weeks or months of work in the UK again, these would be my preferred options in order:
1. A university pre-sessional course (making sure that it is actually run by the university rather than being hived out to a subcontractor or, worst of all, being a totally separate summer school that just happens to be using that building. Note also that wages seem to be going down rapidly for these jobs)
2. A regular all year school rather than any kind of temporary centre, and if not a centre that is connected to a permanent one (these might be able to find you accommodation in a student house, for better or worse, if having somewhere to stay is one of the selling points of a residential summer school).
3. A summer school in another country, e.g. British Council summer school or even a summer camp. I did one in Turkey for 25 pounds a week (plus bed and board and beach) and it was still a better experience than doing one in the UK
If none of those are possible or desirable
4. A non-residential summer school
Having said all that, being restricted to quarters like a solider under court-martial is a great way of saving money even when the pay is less than other summer school options. So, if that is your preferred option, look out for these:
5. A summer school connected to a permanent school that is British Council accredited (the British Council summer school accreditation is much much less demanding)
6. A summer school with managers that have come from the main centre rather than been recruited especially
7. A summer school that asks for TEFL qualifications for all teachers (mine had PE teachers who also had to teach English)
8. A summer school with the same DoS as last year
Other things you might want to consider
-How many weeks they can offer and maybe guarantee, and maybe if past August is possible
-How much notice you have to give to quit (in case you get offered a September job at short notice)
-Food
-How many people you will be sharing a room with
-Transport connections
-Whether it will be possible to do anything or get out of there during your minimal time off
- Having to wear school T shirts and take groups of 15 kids with identical backpacks around London museums
Things that mean nothing
-The building it is in, e.g. being based in a well known or expensive private school or Oxbridge college
-How much they charge the students
-A well known name
-Size
Ways of making sure you can get the better jobs
Diploma or MA, or if not a B in your CELTA
First aid or lifesaving certs
Sources on summer schools (can’t comment on the accuracy on individual schools, but gives you an idea of what to try and avoid generally)
TEFL Blacklist on EF College Oxford
The TEFL Tradesman- How to double your money at summer school
The TEFL Tradesman- Summer school Saturnalia Revisited
EL Gazette (totally viewable for free online- lots of stories of being paid under the national minimum wage etc recently)
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This post was a special request from a reader, so have tried my best despite only having done one UK summer school myself. Other requests or suggestions for the topics of posts gratefully accepted- just leave a comment here or email me through the “Contact me” button. Would also of course be interested in your own recommendations and warnings re summer schools below.
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:36 am
I’ve never done a summer school, but I’ve done university pre-sessionals. If you can get one of those you would be much better off, I would have thought.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 am
Thanks for your advice, and the time and effort you put into doing this. Much appreciated.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:59 am
oh shit looks like my face is permantently on a frown, now how do i change that? let’s see.
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:00 am
maybe by changing the name?
January 19th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
A lot of fairly decent British Council accredited schools in London have vacancies for summer school teachers. Not a bad option if you have somewhere to stay in London.