PRIOR PARK COLLEGE
Homestay accommodation | Course dates: 7th July – 5th August 2018
Where is Prior Park College? Show in map
Centre Documents
Key Facts
- Beautiful, historic city centre
- Course located in an elegant Palladian mansion
- Close to city centre
- Ideally located for a wide range of excursions
- Multi-National programme
- Excellent facilities on campus and nearby
Bath and Prior Park College
The city of Bath, a World Heritage Site, is one of the jewels of England. The compact city centre which is surrounded by seven hills like Rome, developed around its hot spring water. It is a fascinating blend of Roman, medieval and Georgian architecture, combined with a thriving shopping centre and excellent leisure facilities.
The city has a great many things to see and do, such as museums, parks, the Thermae Bath Spa, cinemas and theatres. It is also near to many places of interest, such as Oxford, Bristol and Stonehenge nearby. The city has a great selection of shops as well as plenty of excellent restaurants and cafes to suit all budgets
Our course takes place at Prior Park, an impressive independent school with amazing views overlooking Bath. The building was originally built in the Palladian style for Ralph Allen, a wealthy businessman who wanted to demonstrate the beauty of Bath stone. Set in 57 acres of parkland, the grounds provide a good selection of sports facilities including an indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, all-weather areas and football pitches.
In addition to the main school building there are purpose-built and well-equipped classrooms, a large hall for drama productions, discos and talent shows, and a canteen for lunches and some evening meals.
Accommodation & Catering
Elac hosts are chosen with great care by our Homestay co-ordinators, who visit every host initially, take references and inspect the accommodation provided. They then visit them again every two years. Hosts must also comply with British Council standards, including having a current DBS Certificate (a police check confirming their suitability to host under 18s).
Our hosts provide a warm welcoming atmosphere for our students where they can really feel at home. Students can expect a comfortable bedroom with somewhere to study and shared bathroom facilities.
Students staying with local hosts are provided with bus passes and travel to and from Bath centre on local buses. Students then use a shuttle bus to and from the central bus station to Prior Park College.
Students eat breakfast and an evening meal daily with their hosts. Hosts are happy to cook according to our student’s dietary needs and/or allergies. At lunch time, the college provides excellent hot meals including a vegetarian option and a salad bar. A packed lunch is provided for excursions by the host.
Course Features
- Course fees (per week): £585.00
- Accommodation: Homestay
- Course dates: 7th July – 5th August 2018
- Student ages: 14-17 years
- Student nationalities: Italian, Spanish, French, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Israeli
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Airport transfer time:
Bristol: 45min
Heathrow: 120min - Excursions:
London or Stonehenge/Salisbury
Oxford, Cardiff or Bournemouth
Bristol
Bath Spa (Half-day) x2 - English lessons: 15 hours per week
- Laundry facilities: Yes
- Wifi on campus: Yes
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Centre address:
Elac Study Vacations
Prior Park College
Ralph Allen Drive
Bath
BA2 5AH
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Key Academic Features
- 15 hours of English lessons each week
- Balance of appropriate language and skills development
- Links to activities and visits in the UK
- An opportunity to work individually and in multi-national groups
- Integrated skills syllabus linked to the ALTE framework
- An opportunity to take the Trinity Spoken English examination
- An opportunity to study with at least two Elac teachers
At Prior Park College our students receive 3 hours of English tuition divided over 3 lessons in the morning or afternoon, five days a week; a total of 15 hours per week. There is a balance between language and skills development in mixed nationality classes, with a maximum of 15 students to a class. Students use an Elac workbook which also acts as a record of the student’s stay.
There is an option for students to be prepared and entered for the Trinity Examination while on an Elac course at Bath Spa University. Preparation for the exam takes place in three additional sessions organised in the afternoons or evenings immediately prior to the exam.
There is an additional charge for entering the exam. Please refer to the “Dates and Prices” page for more details.
Activity Programme
Key Activity Features
- A wide variety of sports and activities
- Multi-national activities and the “activity carousel”
Our sports and activity programme during the day and in the evening gives students’ opportunities to enjoy a variety of sports and activities and practise their English in mixed nationality groups. Our activity leaders are experienced in encouraging students to get involved and have fun.
The “activity carousel” organises students into small multi-national groups who do some activities together during the course. The carousel helps students gain confidence and fluency with their English as well as encouraging them to interact with more students of different nationalities.
Sports and Physical Activities
Prior Park College has excellent sports facilities including a gym, a swimming pool, an astroturf pitch, outdoor tennis courts and lots of playing fields on the campus.
We run inter-group competitions as well as individual competitions. Trophies and prizes are awarded at the end of the course for the winners.
We also offer aerobics and dance activities where possible.
Creative Activities
Students can also participate in the following:
- Designing T-shirts and bags
- Making key rings, book marks, painting and colouring projects
- Music and drama workshops
Evening Activities
These take place every evening. Activities include:
- Treasure and photo hunts
- Quiz nights and murder mystery events
- Talent shows and casino nights
- Discos and Karaoke
- Movie nights
Evening activities take place on three evenings a week. Students spend the other evenings with their hosts.
Excursion Programme
Key Excursion Features
- Direct trains from Bath Spa to London
- Different options for the first included excursion (Stonehenge & Salisbury or London)
- Included entry to the Roman Baths, Oxford University, SS Great Britain and Stonehenge (if chosen)
On a two week programme students go to three of the following destinations; London, Oxford, Stonehenge & Salisbury and Bristol.
Half day excursions include and orientation tour of Bath and a visit to the Roman Baths.
London
Our first excursion to London will begin with a walking tour of the city – the best way to see all the world-famous landmarks. Whether this is our student’s first visit or not, we’re sure that they will want to have a chance to see Buckingham Palace, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square and much more. At the end of the sightseeing tour, students have some free time to visit some shops and buy souvenirs.
Stonehenge & Salisbury
Stonehenge is a Neolithic Stone Circle, located on Salisbury Plain, 8 miles north of Salisbury. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Stonehenge is both a spiritual place and a masterpiece of engineering, believed to have been constructed over 4,500 years ago. The excursion also includes a visit to the state-of- the-art exhibition and visitor centre, with over 250 archeological objects and treasures.
Salisbury is a small, pictureseque cathedral city in Wiltshire. The impressive cathedral tower dominates the landscape, and the Chapter House has on display an original Magna Carta, dating from 1215 AD. Our visit to Salisbury includes a tour of the city, entrance to the cathedral and some free time to explore the attractive centre or to do some shopping.
Bristol
Our visit to Bristol begins with a chance to view and walk across the Clifton Suspension Bridge, built by the renowned engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Following this we will visit another of Brunel’s achievements, the SS Great Britain (entry included), the first iron hulled ship to cross the Atlantic. There will be free time to visit the large recently constructed indoor shopping centre, Cabot Circus, or else to follow the ‘Banksie trail’ and see some of the street art in the city, or to visit the city museum.
Oxford
Oxford is a city with a long history, much of it surrounding the university, which together with Cambridge are among the oldest and best known universities in Europe. Oxford University is made up of a number of independent colleges, and these are scattered throughout the city centre. During the visit you will have the opportunity to visit one of these colleges. You will also have the chance to spend time in Oxford’s modern shopping centre or visit the covered market.
Bath Spa & Roman Baths - Half-day
Bath is a fascinating city and there are many places to explore. Our visit includes a tour of the famous Roman Baths, with an audio guide available in different languages. There is then a walking tour taking in the main sites, like Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, and the Royal Crescent. There is also time to sample some of the many shops on offer.
Wells Cathedral – Half-day (3 week programme)
Wells cathedral has been described as one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Britain. Built between 1175 and 1490, its famous west front has 300 carved medieval saints looking down on the visitor. Wells itself is a medieval city about 40 minutes’ scenic drive from Bath, surrounded by the Mendip Hills and the Somerset Levels, the setting of Arthurian legend.
Cardiff (3 week programme)
This excursion involves a visit to Cardiff Castle, followed by free time for shopping and a look around the city centre. Cardiff Castle is one of Wales' leading heritage attractions and a site of international significance. During 2000 years of history, the Castle has been a Roman Garrison, a Norman stronghold and in Victorian times was transformed into a gothic fairytale fantasy.