English Language Courses in Exeter for Teenagers (Ages 14-17) – Summer FAQs
Parents (and teenagers) often have important questions they don’t ask out loud – especially when they are comparing schools. This FAQ is designed to answer those “hidden” concerns clearly, reduce back-and-forth emails, and help families feel confident booking with us.
If it matters to you, it matters to us so if we haven’t answered your question, then please ask us.
Top 5 questions parents ask us about our English courses for teenagers:
Founded in 1966 by Margery and Ronald Tomlinson, we’re now in our third generation as a family-run english language school for teenagers. We are the only three-generation family-run English language school in Exeter with 60 years of continuous operation.
We are British Council Accredited with 13 areas of strength from our last full inspection, members of English UK and English UK South West, and we have been an EL Gazette Centre of Excellence since 2008. We were ranked as the #1 Family-run Summer School by EL Gazette from 2017–2025.
Our personal touch sets us apart. I personally visit every homestay family, ensuring the warmth and care we promise. With small class sizes (maximum 12), your teenager receives individual attention. We’ve focused exclusively on teenagers since 2008, so we truly understand this age group, their needs and how to encourage them to learn as much English as they can.
Yes because practice happens all day, not just in the classroom. Students are placed into the right class level for them before arrival. We use the Oxford University online placement test. They will learn in small classes (maximum 12 students) and then use English naturally with their homestay family, during activities, and on excursions. At the end of the course, each student receives a personalised progress report.
- 18 hours of English lessons per week
- Online placement test before arrival
- Homestay accommodation
- Organised activities and excursions
- 24/7 emergency support
Questions about our English courses for teenagers:
We teach teenagers aged 14–17 only. This has been our exclusive focus since 2008. Our classes are divided by level and age
Our classes are small with a maximum 12 students per class, which means everyone gets plenty of attention
We teach students from level: A2 to C2 on the European Common Framework. Students all take an online placement test before arrival so we can place them in the right class for them.
Our pre-arrival placement test helps us place students accurately from day one. If a student feels their class level isn’t right once they arrive, we can review placement early in the course and make adjustments where appropriate.
Questions about how our students learn and the support they receive in the classroom
Students are placed in classes based on their level. On the first day at school their class teacher will evaluate the students and if necessary they will move to a better level for them. Teachers monitor progress throughout the course, they will have weekly progress tests and also a tutorial in their first week. We collect feedback from students during their stay at regular intervals to make sure they are learning.
Our experienced staff handle mixed levels well. We usually have enough students at each level to create balanced classes at the right level.
Yes, students receive a certificate at the end of their course
All our teachers have a university degree, a recognised TEFL certificate (preferably CELTA or DELTA), and at least two years’ teaching experience. They all have experience in teaching teenagers and enjoy teaching this age group.
Questions about how we look after your child and keep them safe
Student safety is our priority. We carry out full risk assessments for activities, and our staff-to-student ratios exceed British Council minimum requirements. Students are supported by trained staff throughout the programme.
We handle all health issues promptly with support from homestay families and our 24/7 emergency contact. We keep you informed every step of the way.
We provide 24/7 support by email and phone. Students and homestay families can reach us on WhatsApp anytime. We have emergency procedures in place and our staff-to-student ratio exceeds recommended levels.
Before arrival, we collect detailed dietary and medical information. We complete risk assessments for activities and excursions. Homestay families receive support from our team 24/7, so any concerns about your child can be handled quickly and safely. We match dietry requests with appropriate host families and can manage allergies depending on the severity.
We do not have a school nurse, so if your child has a life-threatening illness or needs daily professional medical care then please contact us before booking a course with us.
We are available by email and phone throughout your child’s stay. We respond quickly- it’s one of the main reasons parents choose us.
Families want students to have an amazing time- and to be safe and well supported. We set clear expectations for behaviour and welfare, and students are supervised through the programme. All students have a curfew ( the time they must be home by) and our host families will call me if they are late home.
If any issue comes up, we address it promptly and communicate with parents when needed.
Questions about how the activities and excursions your child will do with us
All of the activites are included in the course fees. They will have 4 activity/sports sessions each week and they change depending on the number of students and are different each week. Students enjoy sports like 5-a-side football, dodgeball tennis, climbing, watersports (canoeing, kayaking, raftbuilding), self-defence, yoga and volleyball. They also enjoy activities like bowling, billiards or Virtual reality games. We also organise social activities like disco evenings, games evenings or dance classes.
We always have more staff than recommended for supervision. We carry out risk assessments for all activities and excursions, and we have emergency support available 24/7.
The weather in the Uk is very changeable even in the summer it might rain all day. The programme is organised but if it rains we will change the programme of excursions. There is nothing more miserable than standing at Stonehenge in the rain! To avoid upsetting students who might not mind standing in the rain we do not publish the list of excursions online but please ask us and we will be more than happy to tell you our plans!
We have an excursion every Saturday! We will take you to places like Bath, Salisbury and Stonehenge,Bristol, Eden Project or Tintagel and Bude. All the entry fees are included in the excursions and you will have a lesson about what you are going to see / do during the week.
No! Absolutely not! We will take you to visit places properly. For example in Bath you will get to visit the Roman Baths, in Eden Project you will get to try their hangloose adventures like the gravity swing or the high ropes. We want you to learn and have fun and our excursion programme is planned so you can have both
