Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book?
I’ve booked – what happens next?
Can I speak to someone about my booking?
Can you arrange travel insurance?
Can you arrange transport from/to the airport?
My student is travelling alone – will he/she be met at the airport?
What are the best days/times to arrive and depart?
How can I contact my student?
How can I contact Ardmore Language Schools during the course?
What will happen if my student cannot travel?
What will happen if my student is homesick?
What will happen if my student becomes ill?
What does my student need to bring with them?
How many lessons will my student have each week?
Will the classes have students from a variety of nationalities?
How many students will be in each class?
What will my student eat?
What happens if my student has special dietary requirements?
What excursions will my student go on?
How much pocket money will my student need?
Will my student be able to do their laundry?

How do I book?

To make a booking, please complete a booking form and send it to Ardmore Language Schools:

We must also receive a deposit in order for the booking to be considered provisional – please see our Booking Terms and Conditions for more information.

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I’ve booked – what happens next?

We will confirm that we have received and processed your booking and will give you a unique reference number which we ask that you quote in all correspondence. The booking will remain provisional until the full balance payment is received.

We will send you further information relating to your course when available.

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Can I speak to someone about my booking?

Yes - we understand how important it is to keep you informed about your booking and our friendly Head Office staff are available by email (info@theardmoregroup.com) or by telephone (+44 (0) 1628 826699) Monday to Friday (9:00 – 17:30) to answer any questions you may have.

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Can you arrange travel insurance?

Yes - we are able to arrange travel insurance for a supplement. It is essential that everyone on our courses / programmes is fully insured and we recommend purchasing our Travel Insurance which is designed to cover all of the activities included in our courses - please see our Booking Terms and Conditions for more information.

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Can you arrange transport from/to the airport?

Yes – we are able to arrange return airport, and London Waterloo, transfers for a supplement. The return transfers include a Meet and Greet service and each of our transport suppliers are reputable companies, all of which we have audited to check their safety records.

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My student is travelling alone – will he/she be met at the airport?

Yes – we can meet your child if you request an airport transfer at a supplement; this includes a Meet and Greet service with a private transfer to the college / centre.

On your student’s departure from the centre / college, the driver or an Ardmore Representative will accompany your child into the terminal and assist him/her with check-in. The driver will only leave the airport once your child has passed through passport control (non-passengers are not permitted to proceed any further than this point).

If for any reason there is an unscheduled delay, or the flight is suddenly cancelled, your child will have the Ardmore Language Schools 24- hour emergency mobile number, allowing him/her to contact us for assistance.

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What are the best days/times to arrive and depart?

Our courses generally begin on a Sunday, however please check with Head Office as some residential courses may begin on a Monday. As your student’s first meal with us is dinner, we recommend that the best time to arrive is mid-afternoon – this allows time for a welcome chat and time to settle in before dinner.

Breakfast is the last meal your student will have with Ardmore; however we will also provide a packed lunch for their journey home. We encourage students to depart after breakfast as this allows us to prepare for the next in-take of students – this allows us to ensure each student gets the best Ardmore welcome.

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How can I contact my student?

We know how important it is for parents to contact their student while studying with us. We will provide you with a contact telephone number for Ardmore at the Centre where your child is studying, as well as the address of the college/host family. In case of an emergency, we will also give you the Ardmore 24 hour Emergency telephone number, however this number is only for use in emergencies!

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How can I contact Ardmore Language Schools during the course?

Our friendly and professional Head Office staff are available during office hours and are always happy to help in any way they can. In emergencies outside of office hours, you may contact an Ardmore Representative on the Ardmore 24 hour Emergency telephone number, however this number is only for use in emergencies!

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What will happen if my student cannot travel?

Please refer to our Booking Terms and Conditions, as these give comprehensive details about the financial implications and so forth. Please note we recommend purchasing our Travel Insurance which is designed to cover all of the activities included in our course.

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What will happen if my student is homesick?

We understand that some students are homesick when they first arrive in England. Ardmore recommends that parents discourage their student from calling home too often at this time and try to persuade them to speak to someone at the Centre.

Individual students will be looked after by the Individuals’ Co-ordinator / Family Organiser – who will assist the student to settle in, introduce them to other students and answer any questions they may have. The Individuals’ Co-ordinator / Family Organiser will monitor the student and generally take care of them. If students are part of a group, the group leader will assume these duties.

If the student cannot overcome their homesickness and wants to return home, we will assist them in anyway we can to make the experience less traumatic.

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What will happen if my student becomes ill?

Our staff will deal with any minor illnesses/incidents on site – however if your student requires medical attention our staff will accompany them to a doctor / hospital for consultation. Parents will of course be informed if we have to take this course of action.

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What does my student need to bring with them?

Here is a list of things we suggest your student should bring if attending a general English course:

If your student is participating in one of our specialist programmes, such as the Ardmore Football Academy – please contact Head Office for a more specific list.

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How many lessons will my student have each week?

Each student will receive 15 hours of English tuition per week divided over 5 mornings or afternoons. Each session consists of 2 lesson periods of 90 minutes plus a 30 minute allowance for breaks.

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Will the classes have students from a variety of nationalities?

Yes! All students are tested at the start of their course and retested at the end of their course. Students are grouped according to their English ability and not their age or nationality. This ensures the need to communicate in English as a common language whilst developing new international friendships!

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How many students will be in each class?

There will usually be a maximum of 15 students in a class.

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What will my student eat?

Residential

We know how important it is for students to have nutritious meals, not only for their health, but to help them study. We are currently introducing our ‘Food for Learning’ menu to the Colleges with whom we work.

Host Family

What happens if my student has special dietary requirements?

You must advise of your students’ dietary/medical requirements at the time of booking. We will then inform the college/host family and ensure that your students’ needs are catered for.

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What excursions will my student go on?

Students will go on one full day and one half day excursion each week. Excursions will be to local places of interest and will depend on the location of the college.

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How much pocket money will my student need?

Our course prices already include accommodation, meals, workbooks and excursion entrances; therefore we do not recommend that students bring too much pocket money. We would usually recommend no more than £35 per week as this should be more than enough for souvenirs and snacks when on excursions.

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Will my student be able to do their laundry?

We encourage personal laundry and bed linen to be done once a week. All washing machines, dryers and washing powder are provided at colleges. Students should ask the host family to assist them with their laundry.

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