We sent a survey to parents of students who joined our first summer course in July 2026.

ACCOMMODATION – Tell us about your child's experience with the homestay host.

Response: My daughter, Noemi, had a wonderful experience. She found her room clean, and the bathroom was stocked with every kind of toiletry, which was a lovely and unexpected touch. The family were extremely welcoming and caring. During the first few days, when she missed the bus, they personally picked the girls up and drove them to school. They were always kind, especially when Noemi caught a slight cold—they looked after her and offered her medicine. In short, they were an excellent host family. One evening, Noemi wanted to cook an Italian dinner, and the host family happily agreed and thoroughly enjoyed it!

LESSONS – Tell us about your child's experience of our teachers and English lessons.

Response: Noemi really enjoyed the lessons. At first, she was a little shy, but she gradually became more involved in the activities. She made many friends from different parts of Italy and around the world. The teachers were always attentive and creative. She said she experienced a different and more engaging approach to learning and using English.

AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES – Tell us what your child thought about the afternoon activities programme.

Response: My daughter had a fantastic time. She enjoyed canoeing, climbing, shopping in the city centre, and trips to the seaside. She was always happy and never tired. She interacted easily with German girls and Polish boys, and now that she's home she still keeps in touch with some of them by chatting in English.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE IMPROVEMENT – Tell us about your child's language improvement.

Response: She had the opportunity to use English in real-life situations. A couple of times I overheard her speaking with Maria, her host mum, during video calls. She seems much more confident and natural now, and less focused on "school English."

CULTURE AND UNDERSTANDING – What was your child's impression of Exeter and English culture?

Response: Of course, she was surprised by driving on the left-hand side of the road. She found the food a little too creamy, fried, or rather simple. Even though the host family were very welcoming and kind, she noticed that young people in England seem to be much more independent. Compared with Italy, where children generally have more rules and closer family ties.

OVERALL IMPRESSION – What was your child's overall impression of IPC Exeter Summer School?

Response: She definitely wants to come back next year. Experiencing independence was incredibly valuable. Being away from her family, managing on her own, finding ways to communicate, and solving problems independently were all important learning experiences. It was a wonderful opportunity for personal growth as well as fun with other young people, rather than simply a holiday with relatives. I would recommend this experience to every young person.

VALUE FOR MONEY – What do you think about the value for money?

Response: I would definitely say it was good value for everything that was included.