Frequently asked questions

The main difference is that Summer School includes English lessons and Summer Camp does not. The girls on Summer Camp are either native English speakers or they already speak fluent English and therefore do not need lessons. Some of the Summer Camp girls are boarders and some live nearby and come in every day. All Summer School girls are from overseas and board during the course. Whether you are on Summer School or Summer Camp, you will all mix together at certain points during the week (and every evening for the boarders) so you will all make friends.

The numbers vary but in our busiest weeks we can have about 150 girls sleeping in school – both Summer School girls from many different countries and British boarders. There will also be lots of International Summer school girls from many different countries eager to meet you and practice their English! Many girls are returners – some come for many, many years! – but every year we welcome lots of new girls as well.

Usually, about half of our overseas girls come from European countries and the other half from Asia, Africa and the Americas. You will be able to make friends with girls from different countries and cultures. Many of our former students remain friends as they become adults and they tell us about their friendships. We have had emails telling us about girls who keep in touch from Russia and Spain, England and Japan, Togo and Italy, Israel and Egypt.

Most girls come to Heathfield without bringing a sister or a friend so if you don’t know anyone, you are in the majority! When you arrive, you will be introduced to other girls your age so that you can start getting to know people immediately and you will join in activities together.

There are almost 60 members of staff and although they are not all on duty at the same time, we have a very high ratio of staff to students so there are always enough members of staff around. Our ratio of staff:student is 1:6. There are always lots of people to help you, including staff Monitors who look after Junior and Senior new girls, and Helpers and young staff who are former students.

There is a good mix of both older and younger girls. Summer School has girls from 8 to 17 years old. If you are boarding, your bedroom will be in an area where other girls of a similar age will also sleep.

There is a list of senior and junior sample activities here. Summer Camp is divided into Juniors and Seniors so you attend activities with girls at a similar age.

We have a variety of activities which you get to try in your designated groups and several activities you get to choose as options. Not all are sport so you will have lots of opportunities to try non sporty activities too!

While we try to accommodate requests, we are not able to promise room shares. Priority goes to our youngest international students aged 8 to 10. We also encourage mixed nationalities so our international students can practice their English. Girls from 11 upwards are more likely to have single rooms but if friends can’t share, we place you close together.