Young Learners Programme

Age 16 - 17

About the course

Course Description

The Young Learners Programme at ETC is specifically designed for students aged 16-17, offering them a greater sense of independence compared to the junior programme. This programme allows students to choose between homestay accommodation — where they live with a local host family — or residence accommodation, providing flexibility to suit their individual preferences and comfort levels.

For students opting for homestay accommodation, all host families are DBS checked and undergo regular inspections to ensure a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment. Living with a host family gives students the opportunity to experience local culture firsthand, practice their English in real-life settings, and develop a sense of home away from home.

Alternatively, those who prefer residence accommodation will benefit from a secure, supervised environment, with CCTV monitoring and 24/7 on-site staff safeguarding. This option allows students to enjoy a more independent lifestyle while still having access to necessary support and supervision.

This programme is perfect for students seeking a balanced mix of autonomy and support, providing them with the confidence to develop key life skills, immerse themselves in an enriching learning environment, and make the most of their time at ETC.

A girl is looking at the camera. She is in a small boat in the ocean. To her right, another male student is rowing.

Choose a programme

Homestay or Residence?

Three students and a teacher on an English course

Homestay

Available 15th June - 24th August 2025

Includes:

20 Lessons (15 hours) per week of General English
Single room, self-catered with overnight supervision
1 full day excursion per week (e.g. to London / Oxford / Bath / Stonehenge) with packed lunch provided by ETC.
Bus Pass

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One male student writing with a pen in class

Residence

Available 15th June - 24th August 2025

Includes:

20 Lessons (15 hours) per week of General English
Shared room, half-board in an ETC homestay
1 full day excursion per week (e.g. to London / Oxford / Bath / Stonehenge) with packed lunch provided by ETC.
Bus Pass

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Things To Know

Important Information

Age Requirements

The minimum age for individual students on the Young Learners Programme is 16.
Students aged 16 & 17 may study in an Adult General English class at any time of the year with permission from their parents.
Next of kin details must be received for all students aged 17 and under prior to document issue.
Signed parental permission forms (signed by the parent) must be received for all students aged 17 and under prior to document issue.
Students aged 16 and 17 who are booked onto an adult course programme MUST follow junior policies and procedures, including curfew times.

What We Do

Includes:

DBS all staff and homestay providers
Require all staff and homestay providers to do a safeguarding course specifically designed for Language Schools
Take the safety of all students at ETC seriously
Follow government and BC regulations
Have close and remote supervision in place for under 18’s:
Close supervision is when students are with an ETC member of staff during an activity or lesson.
Remote supervision is when students have an activity such as shopping. The activity leader will be in a designated spot that is known to all the students whilst the students shop in small groups
Have a variety of accommodation so that parents can choose how much unsupervised free time they would like their child to have.
Issue all students with an ETC Identity Card which has the ETC Emergency number on it so students can contact an ETC member of staff 24/7.

Curfew Times

16 – 17 year-olds will only be allowed unsupervised free time if this has been agreed and signed by parents before arrival on the Parental Permission form.
16 and 17 year olds must be home by 10pm. You must give your homestay or the Residence Manager the details of where you are going, who you are going with and how they can contact you in an emergency. If you are going to an activity or in the care of your group leader, please make sure that your homestay has been informed.

Please note that curfew times cannot be extended and if 2 junior students want to stay in the same homestay but they have different curfew times due to their ages, the older student must abide by the younger student’s curfew time.

Residence Information

Includes:

If you’re 16 or 17 years old, you are allowed out at night time by yourself if this has been agreed and signed for by your parents before starting ETC (parental permission form). 16 and 17 year olds must be home by 10 pm. Also, you must give the homestay or the residence manager the details of where you are going, who you are going with and how they can contact you for emergency reasons.
Students who are 16 or 17 whose parents have not signed the parental permission form before the course starts or who are under 16 years old are not allowed to leave the residence or homestay without being accompanied by a designated adult. If you are going to be on an activity or in the care of your group leader, please make sure that the homestay has been informed.

If you would like to find out more information about our student accommodation in Bournemouth, please contact us on +44 (0) 1202 559044 and one of our professional, friendly team members will be more than happy to assist you with your needs.

How much does it cost?

Dates & Fees

Most courses are available throughout the year. You can find a full list of course dates and prices in our Dates & Fees, or use the ETC Course Calculator to get a quote.

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ETC International College

Welcoming international students since 1989