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British Council accredited · Est. 1966English courses for adult groups — year-round, tailor-made
Bring your university, college or company group to England. We build complete programmes for groups aged 16+: English lessons, cultural excursions, welcoming homestays and generous group leader terms — in summer and all year round.
Accredited & trusted
Age 16+Adult & university groups
Year-roundMinistay & summer
Tailor-madeYour dates, your budget
LeadersFree places available
About this course
What you'll get
- ✓A programme built for your groupUniversities, colleges, language clubs and companies: tell us your dates, budget and aims, and we design lessons, activities and excursions around them.
- ✓Practical, communicative EnglishMorning lessons with experienced teachers, in classes matched to CEFR levels.
- ✓Culture and the coastLondon, Oxford and Bath, plus the beaches, towns and countryside of the Dorset coast.
- ✓Group leaders looked afterFree leader places and a single point of contact from first enquiry to departure.
Bringing a school group aged 10–15? See our Junior Group Courses.
All included
Everything taken care of
Meals included
Breakfast and dinner with hosts, and freshly prepared lunches in the school cafeteria on weekdays.
Coach & transfers
Airport transfers and excursion transport all arranged by us.
One point of contact
We plan the programme with you and look after the group from arrival to departure.
60 years of groups
Groups from across Europe and beyond return year after year. Ask us for references.
Simple group pricing
One transparent per-student price covering everything agreed.
Low season programme
Group Ministay Programme
A bespoke low-season programme for adult groups, available from January to June and August to December. Coming in July or August? See our Summer Group Programme.
What's included
- ✓English lessons15 hours per week (unless stated otherwise). 5 nights = 12 hours, 6–8 nights = 15 hours, 9 nights = 18 hours.
- ✓Homestay accommodationPart board with homestay hosts. Full board at weekends.
- ✓Full day excursionLondon, Oxford or Bath — with a walking tour and free time with group leaders.
- ✓Four local trips and activitiesChristchurch, Bournemouth, Hengistbury Head, tennis and more.
- ✓Evening activity at schoolGames evening, bingo, quiz or karaoke.
- ✓Airport transfersReturn transfers via private coach or minibus.
- ✓Five freshly prepared lunchesMade fresh each day in the school cafeteria, Monday to Friday.
- ✓Walking tourGuided tour of Southbourne and local beaches on the first day.
- ✓Free group leader placeOne free group leader with full board accommodation per 15 students.
- ✓Extras includedEnd-of-course certificate, student ID card, free Wi-Fi, and all education materials.
Sample timetable
A typical ministay week
Here's what a seven-night ministay programme looks like. Every programme is tailored to your group.
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Group arrival | English lessons 09:00–12:30 |
English lessons 09:00–12:30 |
English lessons 09:00–12:30 |
English lessons 09:00–12:30 |
English lessons 09:00–12:30 |
Full day to London with walking tour and free time | Group departure & transfer to airport |
| Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | |||
| Afternoon | Walking tour of Southbourne & beaches | Local trip: Christchurch | Local trip: Bournemouth | Local trip: Hengistbury Head | Local activity: Tennis | |||
| Evening | Free evening with homestay host | Free evening with homestay host | Games evening at school | Free evening with homestay host | Free evening with homestay host |
Summer season programme
Summer Group Programme
A bespoke summer programme for adult groups, running through July and August. Groups can arrive on any Sunday from 27 June to 15 August 2027, for 7, 14, 21 or 27 nights.
What's included
- ✓English lessons15 hours per week of morning lessons, or 21 hours (Intensive) on request, with a placement test before arrival.
- ✓Full board homestayWith carefully selected hosts, and lunch at school Monday to Friday.
- ✓Trips and activities every weekdayBeach activities, Bournemouth, Poole, the New Forest or Moors Valley, and sports.
- ✓Full day excursion every SaturdayLondon, Oxford or Bath.
- ✓Evening activitiesTwo or three a week, free and paid, such as karaoke, quizzes and s'mores on the beach.
- ✓Airport transfersReturn transfers from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Bournemouth or Southampton. Other airports on request.
- ✓Free group leader placeAccommodation for one group leader per 12 students.
- ✓Extras includedEnd-of-course certificate, student ID card, free Wi-Fi, and educational materials (books included for stays of 14 nights or more).
Adult timetable
A typical summer week
Adults (aged 16+) have English lessons in the morning: 08:30–09:30, 09:45–10:45 and 11:00–12:00, Monday to Friday. Intensive groups add a lesson from 12:30 to 13:45 (13:30 on Fridays). Activities follow in the afternoon. Every programme is tailored to your group.
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Group arrival & transfer from the airport | English lessons 08:30–12:00 |
English lessons 08:30–12:00 |
English lessons 08:30–12:00 |
English lessons 08:30–12:00 |
English lessons 08:30–12:00 |
Full day excursion to London, Oxford or Bath | Group departure & transfer to the airport |
| Lunch | Lunch at school Intensive: lesson 12:30–13:45 |
Lunch at school Intensive: lesson 12:30–13:45 |
Lunch at school Intensive: lesson 12:30–13:45 |
Lunch at school Intensive: lesson 12:30–13:45 |
Lunch at school Intensive: lesson 12:30–13:30 |
|||
| Afternoon | Beach activities: volleyball & sandcastles | Local trip: Bournemouth, with a quiz | Local trip: Poole, with a tour of the town | Half day trip: New Forest or Moors Valley | Sports: tennis or another activity | |||
| Evening | Dinner and evening with host family | S'mores on the beach | Ten-pin bowling or mini golf | Karaoke at school | Dinner and evening with host family |
Optional extras
Excursions and activities
Full day excursions
London, Bath and Oxford are included. Additional options include the Jurassic Coast (Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and Swanage), Winchester, Portsmouth and Southampton.
Half day excursions
Choose from the Jurassic Coast (Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove), Winchester, Portsmouth or Southampton — all by private coach with a walking tour.
Evening activities
Bingo, quiz nights and karaoke are included. Optional extras include ten-pin bowling, mini golf and laser quest.
Supplements available
Weekly bus passes, student insurance, and special diet options (gluten-free, lactose-free, vegan) are all available on request.
Airport transfers
London Heathrow, Gatwick and central London transfers are included as standard. Stansted and Bournemouth airport transfers also available.
Why Southbourne?
Homestay hosts within walking distance, a ten-minute walk to the beach, 19 classrooms with interactive screens and air conditioning, and a school cafeteria serving freshly prepared lunches.
For full pricing details and to tailor a programme for your group, request a free quote or email joshua.garner@southbourneschool.co.uk.
FAQs
Good questions, honest answers
Quick answers — and we're one WhatsApp message away for anything else.
Who are adult group courses for?
Groups of students aged 16 and over: universities, colleges, language schools, clubs and companies. Groups of younger students join our Junior Group Courses.
When can adult groups come?
All year round. The Group Ministay Programme runs from January to June and from late August to December, and the Summer Group Programme runs through July and August.
How are students accommodated?
With carefully selected homestay hosts, all within walking distance of the school. Leaders can stay in homestay or nearby guesthouses.
How do we get a group quote?
Send us your approximate dates, group size and ages via the form below — we'll reply within one working day with a tailored proposal.
Google reviews
Why students choose Southbourne
★★★★★"Best school I've been to, as a guest teacher, in 10 years of different stages around Europe. Perfect organisation, staff educated and accurate."
★★★★★"The teachers are very experienced and friendly. The food in the canteen is great, and there are not too many students in the class. Thank you to the entire school team."
★★★★★"The school was like a big family for me. Every student was addressed by name — it was very personal and I felt very comfortable. I'm grateful for the lovely friendships that have developed with people from all over the world."
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