Eton Connect Summer School
The Eton Connect Summer School (ECSS) was run for the first time in summer 2021. The free five-day residential Summer School was based at Eton College for two cohorts of 60 Year 10 local state school students. After the continued disruption of COVID-19 on young people’s education and social experience, we created the course to complement the support given by schools in promoting social and emotional wellbeing.
In July 2022, ECSS ran as three cohorts over three consecutive weeks. The first week’s course was run for the students whose course was cancelled in 2021, due to Covid, with 120 new Year 10 students invited to attend the second two weeks.
Partnership schools were asked to nominate four students each to attend the summer school, focusing particularly on students who otherwise would be unable to attend a summer school and who might profit from the independence and aspiration implicit in spending a week in a boarding school.
Working alongside EtonX, the summer school ran the ‘Skills for Success’ course teaching students through skills-based learning, covering topics such as public speaking, verbal communication, resilience and creative problem solving.
As well as the ‘Skills for Success’ course, the students took park in a variety of team building activities including various sports, a ‘Fun Facts’ tour and treasure hunt, an Eton Mess making competition, a careers lecture, performing in a talent show and celebrating everything they had achieved during the week at the final night’s BBQ and disco.
Activities
Skills for Success based classroom sessions devised by EtonX.
Team Building activities: sports (access to the tennis courts, Athens and the swimming pool), an Eton Fun Facts Tour, a treasure hunt, the Eton Mess making competition, a talent show.
Careers lecture.
BBQ and Disco at Queen’s Eyot or Dorney Lake.
Formal course Farewell Lunch in Bekynton.
Impact
‘I feel as if I learnt a lot and it gave me knowledge that is important throughout my whole life, not just in a school environment.’ - A, Harlington School
‘It’s been an amazing experience meeting everyone… and experiencing all those moments. The staff were just as much as or even more enthusiastic than us kids and I love them all.’ - A, Cumberland Community School
‘My favourite part was the teacher carousel where I was given the opportunity to talk and listen to many different people who specialise in different fields of work and university related subjects. This experience allowed me to ask the questions I never got the answers to and gave me new insight on different career paths and university choices you can choose. In addition, I really enjoyed talking to the people leading the course such as Rohid and Jonathan, as well as meeting new people and building friendships.’ - C, Barking Abbey School
“Making new friends and connections which has helped me become more confident. I also enjoyed the lessons which inspired lots of contributions. The disco and BBQ were great fun.” S, Cumberland Community School
Pupil Involvement
In 2022, 146 students attended the 5-day residential course.
