School Integration

The ultimate year-round British school experience

We offer both short and longer-stay integration programmes for students from 11 – 18 years old. They are ideal for young people who want to experience British education, culture, and practise English in an authentic environment. Students may also enjoy subjects that they may not be able to study at home.

"UK schools are very different from what we imagined. All my students from Shanghai have been impressed by the beautiful campus and interesting lessons. My students practised their English speaking skills every day with native speakers, and some of them have planned to study in the UK for the long-term in the future.”
Lucy, Director, Shanghai New Horizon

Our programmes

We offer two school integration programmes, short stay, and high school.

Short stay

Ages 11 – 16
1 – 4-week duration
British secondary school partners
Locations in London, Eastbourne, Kent, Worcester, and south coast
Required English level: A2 (Pre-Intermediate)

Homestay accommodation

High School

Ages 11 – 16
8–12-week duration (with options up to one year)
British secondary school partners (11-16)

Sixth form schools / colleges (16-18)
Locations in London and Eastbourne
Required English level: A2 (Pre-Intermediate)
Homestay or residential accommodation

What is included

Full integration programme
Airport transfers
Accommodation
Lunches in school
School induction, orientation, and introduction to a ‘buddy’

Certificate of achievement
24/7 emergency contact and support

Our partner schools

Our partner schools are located throughout England, from large cities to coastal towns and the countryside, providing the perfect opportunity for students to experience the UK’s exciting diversity. Schools in Britian are open from September to July.

All our partner schools have been graded as “good” or “outstanding”, providing confidence in the quality of education. Schools are graded by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills’. Ofsted is a British Government department, and they inspect schools in England and Wales and focus on curriculum, learner behaviour, and personal development.

Accommodation

Students stay with one of our trusted homestay hosts who regularly welcome overseas students. We aim to match students to the most suitable home, accommodating special requests where available to make sure they have a comfortable and enjoyable stay. We are also able to offer residential accommodation with one of our partner residences in Eastbourne.

Homestay accommodation gives School Integration students the chance to gain an authentic experience of Britan and practise their English even outside of the classroom. Students can use English in a relaxed environment, and they pick up new vocabulary and improve pronunciation. Students experience everyday life in an English home, sample English food and experience British culture, adopting the same lifestyle as their new British school friends.

Experience the British curriculum

Immersive learning

Cultural integration is a key aspect of our programmes. By fully involving students in the school day, they participate in lessons, including English, Maths, History, and Geography, all of which are taught according to the British National Curriculum. There may also be lessons included in the weekly timetable that students do not have at home, such as Food Technology, Music, and Football Practice. Students could potentially experience a more diverse learning environment and lesson variation.

A ‘helping hand’ – and a new friend

Students are paired with a ‘buddy’ for their time at school - someone to guide them through their day and help them to enjoy their time in Britain. An allocated ‘go-to’ staff member is available to answer questions and provide any additional help as needed. In our experience, British children enjoy school integration as much as the visiting students because they learn about different cultures from each other.

Faster English skills development

Life in a British school naturally provides an opportunity to improve both skills and confidence in English at a speed that students may not be able to achieve with their education at home. Interaction with British children also means students can adopt words and phrases not necessarily learned through tuition. Students may also be exposed to colloquial language and idioms which they can use to practise their English authentically.

"Our students were very happy at school. Every student gave 10/10 to the school. They love the school, buddies, classes and how they were so welcomed. Host families were nice and helpful. Students love their host families.   Excursions were good. I am happy with the end result.’’

Cherie - Agent Partner, Thailand

Different types of schools in Britain

There are several types of school In Britain with school hours typically between 8.30am and 3.30pm, giving students plenty of opportunity to extend their activities into the afternoon. The main school types in Britain are listed below.

State schools and academies

These are the most common type of school in the UK, attended by more than 90% of British school children. They generally have the core subjects of English, Mathematics, and Science combined with foundation subjects such as Art & Design, History and IT. Usually, they are separated by age and key stage as Primary Schools, for children aged 5 to 11 years, and Secondary Schools, for students aged 11 – 16 or 18 years. 

Grammar schools

Grammar schools are selective, based on an entrance exam, and are typically more traditional than state schools. They possess a strong focus on academic subjects and retain traditional standards, although a broader range of subjects are now taught. Lessons can include anything from Classical Civilisation to Drama, and Computer Science. They accept students from age 11 to 18 years.

Private schools

Private schools are fee paying schools (funded via tuition fees) and are often selective, based on an entrance exam. They offer a broad range of subjects and regularly achieve the highest exam results. Some private schools accept the full age range of pupils, whilst some only accept students from 11 or 13 years old.

Further education colleges

From the age of 16-18 students can choose to study at a further education college – these specialise in both academic and vocational subjects and prepare students for university or work.

Optional extras and upgrades

Upgrade your students’ experience with accredited English tuition

Students can boost their learning with British Council accredited language tuition, from our English School in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. This world-famous location is home to the Prime Meridian, the Royal Observatory, and the beautiful Greenwich Park. Lessons can take place in the afternoon after the school day has finished, or before/after the school integration placement.

 Available lesson opportunities include:

General English
IELTS Preparation

One-to-one English

Add day trips and excursions

Our integration programme is more than just about school. We want your groups to make the most of their time in Britian and explore world famous cities such as London, Oxford, and Cambridge. Our experienced travel team can offer many choices for popular day trips and excursions, including cultural, leisure, and shopping activities. We can create a package that is tailored to your group’s needs.

“This programme has enabled our school to take part in an international learning experience allowing our exchange students to speak English as much as possible in and outside lessons. This has provided our school and students with a brilliantly diverse international environment. Our students embraced this opportunity and welcomed our guests with excitement and curiosity. The experience was very enjoyable for both staff and students alike.”