Accommodation in an English home

We are proud of our kind, welcoming hosts.  They are an important part of your stay and  one of the main reasons our students return to us each year.

Living in an English home

We believe that living in an English home is the best immersive experience.  The home that you live in  is a very important part of your English experience and we want you to learn all about English family life, English customs and food while you are here in Exeter!It means you experience our country, our culture. It is the most effective way to improve your conversational English too!

Your English home 

Living in a welcoming, local home in Exeter is an invaluable immersion experience where you learn about English life and how to use social English in day-to-day situations.  Sarah, the Principal, visits and carefully selects each of our homes herself because it is such an important part of your experience here.

How do I choose the best home for you?

“I visit all our English homes in Exeter and select kind, welcoming hosts for our students. I inspect their home and talk to them.  I ask myself: “Would I be happy to place a teenage child of my own here?

If the answer is yes, I collect personal references and carry out police checks on everyone over the age of 18 living in the home. When all of the checks are completed successfully, they become a home for our students.

We check in the first days of the course that you are happy in your home.  I am in the school gardens talking to students every day.  If there is something you do not understand or are unhappy about, please tell me. I want you to have the best experience here”.

Sarah Tomlinson, Principal

All our hosts abide by our Code of Practice in accordance with British Council and British Tourist Authority recommendations.

English host family with two international students enjoying a full English roast dinner
eating dinner in a traditional English home. Young girl is being offerend some mashed potato while her hosts smile

What is included?

You will have full-board accommodation every day = all meals.
• Breakfast, a packed lunch and evening meal from Monday to Saturday
• Breakfast, lunch and an evening meal on Sunday

Your homestay will clean your room, change your bedding weekly and do light laundry while you are here (no dry cleaning). They will also provide you with towels while you are here in Exeter.

We will provide you with a bus pass to travel to/from your homestay. This is included in your course fees. We will send you specific information before you arrive about your homestay in Exeter with specific information, including the time it will take you to travel from school. You will not have to travel for more than 30 minutes to get home.

an older host family and two young international students enjoying a traditional English breakfast in the garden

When you apply, you can choose:

  • to share a room with another Isca student (same sex, similar age and different nationality). This is a great cultural experience and we recommend it!
  • to share a room with a friend
  • to have a single room (limited availability). If a single room is not available, you will share a twin room with another Isca student (same sex, similar age and different nationality)

We guarantee that no students with the same mother tongue are placed in the same family, unless two friends ask to share.

Risk assessment and safeguarding policy statement

Read more about how we keep you safe on your activities and excursions

Download here
Isca School Brochure

Download our brochure

Download here

Do you want to learn more about studying with us?

Phone us and find out more

On +44 (0) 1392 255342
Our office hours are Monday to Friday 09.00-16.30

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