ISSFT student negotiating a treetop walkbridge

Parent information Keeping your children safe

Safety first

Parents can trust that their children are safe and happy and are being looked after properly.

Our dedicated staff go the extra mile to make sure that all aspects of the summer school programme run seamlessly. They make sure that your child is safe, secure, and having a wonderful life experience.

ISSFT students hugging

24 hour care

Our fully contained campus locations are recognised as some of the safest in the UK. We have 24 hour campus security (including in our halls of residence) and our pastoral care team live alongside students, 24 hours a day.

Airport transfers

ISSFT representative waiting at airport arrival gate

Peace of Mind

Our staff will be waiting for your child at the arrival gate as soon as they have passed through customs.  They will be dressed in ISSFT uniforms and will have a sign with their name on it. On departure day, we will escort them right through to the security gate and will stay at the airport until the last flight has departed.

Living Environment

ISSFT student siting in their room

Home from home

We understand that for many of our students, their experience at summer school may be their first time away from home, or in the UK. Whatever your child's individual circumstances or unique background, we recognise that as an ISSFT student they should always be comfortable, secure and happy, throughout their three week stay.

Insurance

ISSFT staff member doing a star jump

Travel and medical insurance

Our cover includes but is not limited to, Emergency medical expenses in the event of illness or injury. Protection against cancellation or curtailment charges. Cover for loss or damage to baggage and personal money

Your policy will become valid after you have completed your summer school fee payment in full and received notification that your policy is live.

Summary of cover

FAQs

Our accommodation is independently rated as 4-star

All of our accommodation is modern and comfortable. Every student has their own lockable bedroom and ensuite bathroom. Bed linen and towels are provided and refreshed regularly.

There are communal areas in the halls of residence so that students can socialise. However, at lights out they have their own private space. Each student has their own room key and nobody else has access to that room.

All of the floors are split by age and gender. The boys are on a separate floor to the girls and both floors are divided by age group.

Students are chaperoned by a member of our team, whom we call a Counsellor. Our employees are all experienced summer school chaperones and are supervised by our Residential Manager, who lives on campus 24-hours a day. The building itself is permanently manned by a dedicated concierge service.

Only a student or staff member’s key will grant access to the Halls of Residence. Student safety is always our number one priority. We also have an onsite pharmacy and medical clinic.

No, never.

We organise supervised transportation for students from the airport, throughout the opening day of summer school. We can also easily arrange out of schedule pickups if required.

We will also drop your child back at the airport and take them to their check-in gate on departure day.

Staff will stay at the airport until all flights have left.

Yes, we provide freshly prepared meals every day.

Each student will receive a balanced and nutritional diet, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and a healthy snack. On trip days, packed lunches with a small treat are provided.

We take our food seriously. As parents we understand that good food is an important part of feeling at home.

A final night BBQ will be provided and for our braver students, there is the option to taste some Scottish haggis at our Burns Supper!

Yes. Each year we welcome students from approximately 150 countries.

Our school aims to limit nationality quotas to a 10% mix, to ensure a truly international experience for our students.

This also discourages groups of the same nationality talking in their native language, aiding our policy of ensuring that students speak English at all times.

Yes. We have an experienced pastoral care team that live side by side with our students.

Our campus is also monitored round the clock by a dedicated security team. Reassuringly, our campus is considered the safest in the UK.

Even during free time, students can enjoy our facilities, safe in the knowledge that if they need anything there will be a member of staff nearby to assist them.

Yes. We make every effort to ensure that they are.

We limit the total number of students attending ISSFT, to ensure small class sizes and create an environment where every student feels involved, valued and comfortable.

During the first few days of the summer school, we focus heavily on helping our students to settle in and make friends. All of our Counsellors and Teachers are approachable, open and friendly. It’s their responsibility to ensure that all students are happy for the duration of their stay.

Our Director is on hand throughout the summer school to promptly address any concerns students or parents may have.

Need help applying for a VISA?

What to pack

What to pack for our International Summer School

Unlike the way it’s sometimes presented, the UK’s climate is actually moderate and rarely extreme at either end of the temperature scale. We always encourage students to pack lightly and to bring appropriate clothing suitable for all weather conditions.

Students often purchase souvenirs when they are here, so packing lightly helps to prevent unexpected overweight baggage costs on departure.

Please bring comfortable clothing suitable to the UK climate, which, although temperate, can be changeable (see checklist).

Access to Golf Clubs will require golf attire:

  • Trousers
  • Golf shoes/trainers
  • Glove
  • Waterproof jacket
  • T-shirts
  • Cap/hat

Golf students are welcome to bring their own clubs, or we can provide them. Please also ensure that if you are bringing a Golf Bag, you check it in both ways (i.e. pay for extra baggage allowance).

Please let us know, prior to arrival, if you require clubs to be provided. If students wish, they can bring their tennis rackets and accessories, but this equipment can also be provided if you do not have any.

For activities and challenges, students may get very muddy! Please bring an old tracksuit, shorts, t-shirt or sweatshirt and training shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Please note, these should not be your golf shoes.

All students will have access to laundry facilities once a week during their stay. Please also bring appropriate clothing for watersports, including a towel.

Our recommendation for pocket money varies for each student. However, we generally recommend about £40 per week. Students will be able to purchase snacks and drinks at the university and will have the opportunity to go shopping for souvenirs.

Please inform us of any prescribed medication you will be bringing, by entering the details of your medication into the medical section of the Portal.

We encourage students to bring laptops or tablets with them for class notes. However, this is not a requirement and students are responsible for looking after them. Mobile phones are also encouraged, but again this is not a requirement.

Students may wish to bring photographic or other AV equipment.

If students play a musical instrument, we encourage them to bring it with them, if possible.

Although we include Medical and Travel insurance, you may want to take additional cover.

We provide insurance cover including emergency medical assistance and medical costs, protection in the event of cancellation or curtailment, cover for loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal money. Via the Parents Portal, you will have access to a copy of this documentation in full once you have completed the application process.

Key features and benefits:

  • Emergency medical expenses in the event of illness or injury
  • Protection against cancellation or curtailment charges
  • Cover for loss or damage to baggage and personal money

Your policy will only be valid after you have completed your summer school fee payment in full.

Summary of cover

Packing checklist

Suitcase Essential Items Checklist

  • Passport
  • Toiletries
  • Small Backpack
  • Hairdryer
  • Casual Clothes
  • T-shirts
  • Shorts
  • Old Clothes
  • Sweatshirts
  • Jeans/Trousers
  • Underwear and Socks
  • Pyjamas/Nightwear
  • Waterproof Jacket
  • Disco Wear
  • Laundry Bag
  • Prescribed Medication
  • iPod/Music player
  • Mosquito Repellent
  • Sun Hat
  • Camera
  • UK Adaptor for Hairdryer, Phone etc.
  • Water Bottle
  • Smart Outfit for Awards Ceremony
  • Clothes for Sports
  • Beach Towel (optional)
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Waterproofs for Kayaking
  • Swimsuit, Goggles, Towel
  • Golf Wear/Clubs (optional)
  • Tennis Wear
  • Tennis Racquet (optional)
  • Laptop/Tablet
  • Notebooks/Pens/Pencils
If you have any questions just ask

Start your journey with us  Invest in your child’s future this summer 

University of Stirling

session 1
29 June - 19 July 2024
session 2
21 July - 10 August 2024

Imperial College London

session 1
22 July - 8 August 2024

University of Oxford

session 1
6 July - 26 July 2025

For more information