Dukes Cambridge Summer School

At Dukes Cambridge summer school, our student experience goes beyond the classroom, with a social programme led by a dynamic and imaginative team of College Mentors. We are confident that our activities and excursions will help form strong personal bonds, build confidence and shape memories that will last a lifetime.

To encourage students to develop their growing independence they are provided with free time (with parental consent) in small groups in which to explore their new surroundings; to make the cobbled streets of Cambridge their own. The city has much to explore, from punting, where they will gently glide past Cambridge’s most famous colleges, Darwin, Kings and Christchurch, to exploring many of the city’s museums.

Every evening our enthusiastic College Mentors lead well-being activities and events aimed at creating a socially inclusive collegiate atmosphere. Our vibrant social programme gives students every chance to make new friends besides their classmates; thus improving our students’ communication and teamwork skills, and forging a closely-knit campus community.

Alongside a wide range of traditional team sports, students can choose from a range of other well-being and fun activities such as yoga, art, poetry and creative sessions.

During a two-week course, students will go on two excursions, including an action-packed iconic trip to London, where there will be a variety of activities to suit all interests including a sightseeing walking tour, the British Museum and the National Gallery.

London has much to offer and each year we review and innovate our excursion programmes to offer new and alternative experiences of the capital city. Previous itineraries have included Kew Gardens, London sightseeing and the museums of Knightsbridge and Greenwich. Every London itinerary includes free time to explore and browse the shops of some of Britain’s most famous brands.

This will be followed by a fun and relaxed excursion around Cambridge. Here students will be able to take the day to explore their home city of Cambridge in more detail, with a range of activities designed around discovery and recovery from an intense academic week.

We’re proud to celebrate our students’ achievements in style with a formal graduation ceremony. At the end of each two-week summer course the graduation ceremony offers moments of reflection and an opportunity to recognise achievements, both personal and academic, alongside new friends.

A graduation certificate will be presented to students during the special ceremony. We’ll also provide a report outlining all accomplishments while studying with us, along with helpful tips to guide learners in the right direction towards future success. Graduation is often the highlight of many students’ experience. It offers the chance to dress up, have fun and celebrate the amazing friendships that have been formed during their stay.

SBC goes above and beyond the curriculum through experiential learning. Our students are challenged to use and demonstrate new abilities in a nurturing and encouraging environment. Students have the opportunity to develop 21st-century skills throughout the programmes, with opportunities to develop critical thinking, leadership, communication and teamwork.

Students are actively encouraged to take the initiative, think critically and to cooperate with others to solve problems, simulating what we do every day in a work environment. This is done under the direction of our inspirational teachers.

Additionally, Cambridge summer course students take part in our Industry Experience programme. These sessions are both on-site, in which you will participate in on-campus workshops led by an industry professional and blend practical engagement with immersive learning, and off-site, in which students engage in excursions that complement and broaden our student’s horizons.

We place the student experience at the heart of everything we do; having caring, inspirational tutors with vast subject knowledge and world experience is paramount. We purposefully work with tutors who are not only experts in their subject, but who are highly skilled in bringing the very best out of young people. Teaching is both an art and a science. We go above and beyond to find approachable professionals, with compassion and flair, and whose values align with our own; ensuring a lasting impact that will live long after our students’ final class with us.

Industry Experience is another highlight of our Cambridge summer school programme, where students take part in a series of workshops and lectures led by industry professionals in their respective fields. The Industry Experience element of our courses provides an insight into the professional dimension of working in their chosen field of study, so that students can make informed decisions as to their future career choices. Everything about SBC’s Industry Experience is designed to extend the experience beyond the classroom.

The safety and wellbeing of students is our number one priority. We have a comprehensive Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and procedures in place to which all employees, volunteers, visitors, and contractors are obligated to adhere to.

As part of this, students are accommodated in secure and comfortable accommodations during their stay. Cambridge is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities within the United Kingdom and provides a perfect backdrop to a safe and comfortable college experience.

Each of our college sites is composed of dedicated and experienced College Mentors and Social Welfare Managers to ensure that students have the best possible experience during their college journey. All staff are given extensive training to create an environment where all students feel safe, secure, valued, and respected whilst studying with SBC. These friendly and caring staff are always available to provide high-quality pastoral support and remain on call 24 hours per day.

During excursions and local visits, all students with parental consent are allowed free time for up to 2 hours. Students must stay in groups of at least 3, during free-time. Staff will make students aware of the designated meeting place and time, with a designated member of staff who will be given a fixed location so that in the event of needing support, they know where to go.

Students with parental consent Can also sign out of the site campus during designated free-time for up to 2 hours and move freely between their accommodation and Santon Wood School.

Our students’ voice is paramount to the college experience and as such we empower our students to shape their own experiences by championing that voice. SBC is committed in our response to student feedback and welcome to student-led initiatives which help us to continue to provide excellent service.