Loading page…
Ages 10–18 · Marlborough College
English as a Foreign Language
- 50,000+alumni worldwide
- 175+countries represented
- 99%participant satisfaction
- 20+years of academic excellence
WHY CHOOSE OUR ENGLISH PROGRAMMES?
English programmes for every age, level and interest
Academy Royale International (ARI) offers four English programmes for students aged 10–18, with courses available at every level and designed to suit different interests and goals. Students improve their English through practical projects, activities and everyday experiences, building the skills and confidence to use English in real life.
Find your level
Start from any level, A1 upward. Every course is built to grow confidence from wherever a student begins.
Learn through doing
Projects, electives, and excursions turn vocabulary into real conversation — so English never feels like a lecture.
Discover your path
From first words to an IELTS band score, choose the course that matches your age, ambition, and what comes next.
YOUR HOME FOR THE SUMMER
Spend your summer on the beautiful Marlborough College campus
Set on 286 acres of Wiltshire countryside, Marlborough College offers a safe, welcoming, and inspirational home for the summer. Live in comfortable boarding houses, join an international community from over 175 countries, and explore Oxford, London, and Britain's most iconic sites — all in English.
FOUR PATHS, ONE SUMMER
Four ways to learn. One right fit for you.
Every student's English journey is different. Choose the course built for your age, level, and ambition — from first steps in the language to the final polish before university.
English Discovery
First steps in English for curious 10 to 12 year-olds, built through games, creative projects, and daily excursions.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Get Active sessions
- Creative Discovery clubs
- Twice-weekly excursions
English Explorer
Real-world fluency for ambitious 13 to 18 year-olds, built through electives, specialist Academies, and independence.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Academic, Creative & Get Active electives
- Optional specialist Academy add-on
- Twice-weekly excursions
IELTS Preparation
Exam-ready English for 14 to 18 year-olds targeting a university future, with a personalised band score plan.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- All four IELTS components
- Mock interviews & timed assessments
- Royale Certificate & personal report
Iconic Britain
History and culture as the classroom for 14 to 18 year-olds, learning English at the places it happened.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Lesson-to-landmark learning
- Six full-day excursions
- Daily get active sessions
Want the full detail?
Download the full programme guide
The complete course list, sample day timetables, learning outcomes, boarding details, and guidance on choosing the right course for your child.
LEARN FROM EXPERIENCED EFL TEACHERS
Teachers who bring English to life.
Every course is taught by a dedicated team of EFL teachers and Activity Leaders, alongside a full residential staff who support students from morning assembly to lights out.
Across the programme, students learn from specialists who make English feel natural — not through grammar drills, but through discussion, presentation, and hands-on projects that turn classroom vocabulary into real conversation.
- 175+
- COUNTRIES REPRESENTED
- 15
- MAX STUDENTS PER CLASS
- 1:6
- STAFF-TO-STUDENT RATIO
MARLBOROUGH BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
A summer of new friends.
Evenings are where real friendships happen. Every activity is built for the age group it's designed for, giving students the confidence to shape their own social summer, entirely in English.
- Themed games nights and talent shows
- Graduation and end-of-course celebrations
- International friendships from over 175 countries
YOUR DAY AT MARLBOROUGH
From English lessons to English evenings.
Each day gives students variety without losing structure. They move from a language lesson into a second lesson, then spend the afternoon on an elective before joining the wider evening programme.
Breakfast*: wake up and enjoy a hearty meal.
Assembly: the whole school gathers to hear the exciting plans for the day.
Language Lesson 1: meet your classmates and get started on a lively project (e.g. Invent the Next Big Thing)
Break: relax, play, and get a snack from the tuck shop.
Language Lesson 2: develop your English with another exciting topic (e.g. Space Exploration and Life Beyond Earth)
Lunchtime*
Elective / Academy 1: make friends exploring your chosen pathway (anything from Filmmakers of the Future to Ultimate Frisbee).
Breaktime
Elective / Academy 2: build on the afternoon's momentum to take your passions further (e.g. Mixed Media Journalism, or Coding and Game Design).
House time: chill with friends or call home.
Dinner*: enjoy a well-earned meal in Marlborough’s impressive dining hall.
Evening Activities: make friends, solve challenges, and build confidence with our exciting social programme (e.g. Games Night, the IQ Challenge, or An Evening of Magic and Wonder).
House time: a quick goodnight meeting before bed.
Lights out: get some well deserved rest, ready for another day of exploration!
What students leave with
Real fluency. New confidence. Lasting friendships.
Every course offers more than a memorable summer. Students build the English, independence, and confidence to know they can flourish anywhere.
- Real-world fluency built through projects and conversation
- Independence and confidence from life away from home
- Friendships from over 175 countries
- Greater confidence speaking, presenting, and thinking in English
- A personalised path — from first words to a target band score
- Memories of Britain's history and culture to draw on for years
For students and families
Everything needed for a confident decision.
A rewarding academic programme should also feel safe, well supported and straightforward to plan.
Fully residential
Students live and learn as part of a welcoming residential community in Marlborough College.
24/7 pastoral support
A dedicated residential team supports students throughout the programme, including outside teaching hours.
International community
Meet ambitious students from around the world and build friendships across cultures and subjects.
Help at every stage
Our advisors answer questions about subject choices, English level, travel and preparing for the programme.
FIND THE RIGHT COURSE
Which programme would make your perfect summer?
A short conversation helps families explore the options and choose the right course for a student's age, level, and goals.
English as a Foreign Language FAQs
Questions families ask before choosing.
Detailed answers for parents and students comparing EFL summer programmes.
Each course is designed for a specific age and ambition. English Discovery suits curious 10 to 12 year-olds taking their first steps in English. English Explorer is our flagship course for ambitious 13 to 18 year-olds. IELTS Preparation is built for 14 to 18 year-olds working toward university study. Iconic Britain suits 14 to 18 year-olds who want history and culture at the centre of their summer.
English Discovery, English Explorer, and IELTS Preparation can be booked for 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks, with start dates throughout July and August. Iconic Britain is a fixed 2-week course with four start dates across the summer.
It depends on age, English level, and goal. Younger students new to English suit Discovery. Teenagers wanting a flexible, well-rounded summer suit Explorer. Those targeting a university application suit IELTS Preparation. Students who want to learn through Britain's history and culture suit Iconic Britain. A short conversation with an advisor can help match a student to the right fit.
English Discovery and English Explorer welcome all levels from A1 upward, and are built to grow confidence no matter the starting point. IELTS Preparation and Iconic Britain require a minimum level of B1, since both move at a more intensive, exam- or independence-focused pace from day one.
No formal qualification is required for any course. Discovery and Explorer welcome complete beginners from A1. IELTS Preparation and Iconic Britain ask for a minimum B1 level rather than a certificate, since lessons and excursions move at a quicker pace.
Classes are capped at 15 students, with a 1:6 staff-to-student ratio and close pastoral support throughout. Students live in high-quality boarding houses at Marlborough College and receive constant support from an experienced residential team, day and night.
Two weeks, running across the summer in Oxford. Students live in residence throughout and take part in the full academic and social programme.
Fully residential fees include tuition, accommodation, meals, activities, supervision, and excursions. Optional specialist Academy add-ons (ProPath Tennis, AI Adventures, Coding & Game Design, and Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow) are priced separately.
Classes are capped at 15 students across all four courses, ensuring every student receives regular, personalised feedback and attention.
Find your purpose
Let your curiosity lead the way.
Places for Summer 2027 are limited and offered on a rolling basis across each available location.