Our summer courses are of four and three weeks’ duration and we ask tutors to be available for briefing two days before the actual start of each course. These days are paid as part of the course. From Sunday 2 July to Thursday 27 July there are two courses running concurrently - an English language course for students from 8 to 18 years of age and a Science course for students from 13 to 17 years of age. Two similar courses run concurrently from Sunday 30 July to Sunday 20 August for students in the same age ranges. In 2005 total student numbers were 235 in July and 185 in August. The projected numbers for 2006 are expected to be approximately 230 on each course. The overwhelming majority of our students come from Europe, though in recent years we have seen a significant rise in the number of students coming from the Far East and Middle East.

The College expects to employ about 22 EFL teachers, 2 Science teachers, 4 PE teachers, 2 Art teachers and 2 Outdoor Education teachers on both the July and August courses. While there will be considerable variety in the work of these different specialists, all summer course tutors are expected to be involved in four main areas:

Teaching

The main commitment of EFL and Science tutors will be teaching on the main timetable between 9:15 and 3:00. These tutors will teach a maximum of 27 35-minute periods a week, although on occasions they may be requested by the Director of Studies to cover for absent colleagues. It is hoped that all our EFL teachers will have a minimum qualification such as the RSA Certificate, and that most will have previous experience, either on other summer courses or from teaching overseas. Science teachers must have, as a minimum; a good honours degree in a relevant discipline.

We require tutors to put a lot into their lessons, preparation for which can be lengthy, though each course has its own Director of Studies, Assistant Director of Studies and Senior Tutor, who are there to offer guidance and advice. Having an all-year-round EFL department, and with many years’ experience of summer schools, there exists a considerable stock of EFL teaching material in the College. A workroom is set aside in which tutors can prepare lessons and materials, and where much valuable experience and expertise is exchanged between tutors. A photocopier and computers are provided for staff use.

PE and Outdoor Education staff may be asked to teach up to 12 35-minute periods on the main timetable. This will usually be on the Options Programme where students choose a medium through which to improve their English. All PE and Outdoor Education tutors are given one day free of classroom teaching each week. An experienced member of staff will lead the team. Art Teachers will also have some commitment on the main timetable providing Art lessons, usually with the younger students. They do not have to be linguists to encourage students to speak in English with their classmates and perhaps correcting errors such as pronunciation when able to. This slightly more relaxed approach to E.F.L is often effective as more formal teaching. Generally students choose 2 options and they are 1 hour 10 minutes per afternoon and would be Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday, so two different option groups.

Sports/Social

The main commitment of PE and Outdoor Education tutors will be organising sports and activities between 3:00 pm and 10:30 pm each weekday and on Sunday afternoons and evenings. Most of these activities will take place on the College campus, but the Outdoor Education staff will also lead mini-bus trips to various locations. It is hoped that all staff in these two fields will have qualifications and experience in teaching youngsters in their respective disciplines, and that many will have additional coaching awards.

All staff are expected to contribute to the sports and/or social programme, and typically an EFL or Science teacher can expect to give up one afternoon or evening each week in order to do so. Art teachers will have some commitment on the main timetable but will be expected to run an Art Club in the afternoons and evenings and on Sunday. Art Teachers will be expected to run an Art Club in the afternoons and evenings and on Sunday. This might attract those students who do not choose it as an option and perhaps are not terribly sporty and enjoy quiet, relaxed curative activities. We would hope that this runs each day except Saturdays and some kind of rota can be organised.

Supervisory

The teaching staff are divided into four duty teams, one of which is on duty each day. They are responsible for various tasks, such as meal supervision, and dealing with students’ problems and complaints. Duty teams also accompany the student body on various full-day and half-day excursions to places such as Shrewsbury, Chester, Alton Towers, Liverpool and London. All members of staff will be involved in accompanying students on two of the major excursions and all should expect to do one Sunday duty during the course.

Boarding

Virtually all our staff live on campus, and will be allocated a single study bedroom similar to those found in a university or college hall of residence. Each tutor is responsible for the general welfare of a small number of students who live in their immediate vicinity, and will be expected to make an effort to get to know their charges so that they might be the first port of call in the event of problems such as homesickness or bullying. In this connection all tutors will be expected to return to their dormitory area at 10:30 to oversee the bedtime routine. Tutors can be relieved of this duty one evening per week.

Because this area of a tutor’s duties involves what the Department for Education and Employment describes as ‘substantial, unsupervised access on a substantial or regular basis to children or young persons’, it is necessary for us to take the precaution of asking all successful applicants to fill in a Criminal Background Check form in addition to a normal contract.

In conclusion, in carrying out their responsibilities in the four areas outlined above, all our staff are expected to behave in a professional manner at all times, and to make the welfare of the students in our care a priority.

It is possible that the post of summer course tutor may sound too demanding. It is hard work, but it is also very rewarding both professionally and socially, and we have many tutors applying to us year after year. Teaching on a summer course is an enriching experience, which many tutors like to mention on future curriculum vitae and, in connection with this, the College is happy to provide references to prospective employers or university/college departments.

The basic salary is £882 for the July course and £734 for the August course, rising by increments of £63 in July and £53 in August. Increments, to a maximum of eight, are awarded for an honours degree, a PCGE, each year of full-time EFL teaching, for each summer’s service with Concord and for an RSA cert. TEFLA or equivalent. An RSA TEFLA diploma carries a further two increments. We would like to stress that in addition to the salary the College provides full board, which includes accommodation, laundry and three meals a day, and also reimburses all reasonable expenses incurred during the performance of a tutor’s duties. Therefore, living expenses while working at Concord are much lower than at most summer course centres.

We recognise that tutors may need to be away from College during the mid-week period to attend oral examinations, graduation ceremonies, job interviews and so on. It is usually possible to arrange cover for such absences, but leave with pay is only granted to any tutor for one day in any given course including the two briefing days prior to the arrival of students.

John Leighton
Director of Summer Courses