ELEA is rated a Centre of Excellence and ranked in the UK’s top 8% of English as a foreign language schools.

Peartree ELEA is a summer residential experience created by Peartree Languages, one of Cardiff’s longest-established English language training (ELT) providers, in partnership with Atlantic Experience. We combine more than 19 years of industry experience in teaching high-quality, accredited English language courses with the spectacular location, facilities, pastoral care and diverse leisure opportunities offered by UWC Atlantic College, home to St Donat’s Castle.

ELEA will take you on an inspirational language-learning journey where you will build lifelong memories. Alongside a network of students from all over the world, you will enjoy challenging lessons, experience action activities, make new international friends and have a fantastic time – and we will help you to do all of this using only the English language.

We offer a full daily schedule combining language classes, physical activities and full-day excursions, developing valuable skills for both your studies in your home country and your future. At Peartree ELEA, you will have the chance to improve your confidence in English and your personal competencies while having the summer experience of a lifetime!

APPLY

If you would like to apply to attend ELEA 2025 please complete the application and assessment forms found at the bottom of this webpage. We recommend you first read the course information pack and terms and conditions to ensure ELEA is right for you. Parents/guardians must complete sections on the application form, which cannot be saved and revisited, therefore, we recommend you also review the summary of the application form questions document to prepare your answers. The participant must complete the assessment.

MEET THE TEAM

Want to learn more about the ELEA programme or have questions to ask? We host regular webinars with Q&A sessions where you can meet our Course Director and learn more. Register to attend our webinar here.

Sign up to our mailing list here to stay up to date with summer education courses.

2025 Course Information

📅 Date: Saturday 19th July – Saturday 2nd August 2025
📍 Location: St Donat’s Castle, Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan CF61 1WF
🧑 Ages: 12 – 17 years old
📝English Language Level: B1 to C1
💷 Fee: £2,600
💸 Discounts: Book before 31st January 2025 to secure a discounted fee of £2,475 GBP per person
Book before 31st March 2025 to secure a discounted fee of £2,525 GBP per person
Siblings receive an additional discount of £50 GBP per person
⏳ Applications open: 1st November. Deadline to apply: 31st May 2025

APPLICATION CRITERIA

ELEA will be held at UWC Atlantic, Wales, UK CF61 1WF from Saturday 19th July – Saturday 2nd August 2025 and participants must commit to the full programme.

Participants must be aged 12-17. The lessons and activities are divided into two age groups: youngers (YOs) ages 12-14 and olders (Os) ages 15-17.

ELEA is joined by a minimum of 60 participants from around the world. A restriction of a maximum of 20% of participants with the same first language applies.

Participants must have a minimum proven language level of B1 and a maximum level of C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). This course is not suitable for participants at beginner or elementary level, first-language English speakers, students who have attended English-bilingual school or have C2 (near-first language competency) level fluency. Participants must complete an assessment test as part of their application and an online interview may be required.

COURSE FEES

£2,600 GBP per person, including all programme fees, boarding, catering and Guard Me insurance. The fee is also inclusive of optional transfer to/from Heathrow Airport, with pick up and drop off at Terminal 5 only, within the time window and according to the conditions specified in the Course Pack. The fee does not include flights or assistance within the airport such as unaccompanied minor services with airlines, participant spending money, visa fees or travel costs outside of the transfers.

DISCOUNTS

Book before 31st January 2025 to secure a discounted fee of £2,475 GBP per person
Book before 31st March 2025 to secure a discounted fee of £2,525 GBP per person
Siblings receive an additional discount of £50 GBP per person

HOW TO APPLY

If you’re interested in joining ELEA, please complete the application and assessment forms. Once both have been submitted, these will be reviewed and we will notify you if you have successfully secured a place on the ELEA programme within 5 working days. If your application is approved, an invoice will be sent due for payment within 14 days. If you require a payment plan or to extend the payment deadline, please discuss this with us.

Unfortunately, at this time we do not offer scholarships for ELEA. Please only apply if you can cover the full costs of the ELEA programme.

The closing date for applications is 31st May 2025; however, we recommend booking as soon as possible as there is high demand for the ELEA programme. Before you apply, please ensure that you have read further information found in the course pack and terms and conditions documents on the webpage below.

WEBINARS

We host regular webinars with Q&A sessions where you can meet our Course Directors and learn more. See the full list of webinars here and register.

CONTACT US

If you need to get in touch, don’t hesitate to contact us by email elea@uwcatlanticexperience.com or call +44 (0)  1446 799 000.

If you are an Education Tour Operator looking to book ELEA, please contact Peartree directly at info@peartreelanguages.com

LOCATION

UWC Atlantic
St Donat’s Castle
Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan
Wales, UK
CF61 1WF

About ELEA

ELEA is an English as a foreign language (EFL) course for 12-17 year olds looking to develop their English language communication skills through an engaging and unique experience. If you want to spend your summer day-in-day-out in a classroom, then this course isn’t for you!

What we offer is a full daily schedule which combines your language classes with action activities. You will develop valuable skills for your studies in your home country, and improve your confidence in English and your personal skills while having the adventure experience of a lifetime!

The Location

Peartree ELEA takes place at UWC Atlantic College, Vale of Glamorgan, UK. This spectacular, 122-acre site is home to its own 12th-century St Donat’s Castle, woodland, farm, valley and seafront with an enclosed bay. You will enjoy meals in a magical dining hall, listen to stories and myths about the castle and be in constant contact with nature in this safe, beautiful residential setting.

The Lessons

You will join English language group classes, divided by level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for language competence (B1, B2 etc). Participants must be able to demonstrate a minimum level of B1 (pre-intermediate) and maximum level of C1 (advanced) to be eligible to join the course.

Our classes follow the standards set by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK. Lessons help students develop communicative, authentic English language skills through themes based on important real-world characters and events and how they connect to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The curriculum is specially developed for ELEA, and reflects our values, the UWC mission and our students’ lives and interests. It uses 21st century skills and activities like critical thinking, debating and teamwork to build confidence and language ability, and helps students consider local and global impacts related to the SDGs.

THE ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS

You will live in houses containing dormitories where up to four students share a room. Houses are allocated by gender, and rooms within the houses are assigned according to age and a deliberate nationality mix. Each house has a common room with plenty of space to relax and a kitchen stocked with daily supplies such as fresh fruit, bread, spreads, biscuits and cereals.

All houses are located within the grounds of the College, with wonderful views of the sea and woodland and are an easy walk to all facilities (dining hall, lessons, activities, pick-up points).

There will be three full meals per day – breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals will be enjoyed in the spectacular castle dining hall, giving students the feeling of being in a real-life Harry Potter movie! On excursion days a packed-lunch will be provided.

THE EVENING ACTIVITIES

Evening activities provide the chance to speak English while relaxing and having fun. This includes a Gala Dinner, international show, cinema evening (full-sized screen), traditional Welsh dancing, disco and more, all within the grounds of the College.

During free time, students can explore designated areas of the College campus with new friends and use the communal and sporting facilities available to them on site.

The Excursions

On various days throughout the programme, we will travel away from the campus for full-day excursions to visit new places in the U.K. This includes:

– An excursion to the historical city of Bath in England to visit a popular cultural attraction
– A visit to the capital city of Wales, Cardiff, to explore Welsh culture and enjoy a shopping opportunity in safe pedestrianised malls and historical arcades, including the oldest record shop in the world!
– A full-day cultural or historical excursion in South Wales linked to themes explored as part of the curriculum.

The Activities

There will be a range of activities over the two-week experience, including archery, climbing, pool kayaking and bushcraft. You will enjoy visits to local areas of natural beauty including hiking along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast on which the campus sits, as well as a full Nature Explorer Day. Leisure activities on campus include sports, team games and a tournament challenge.

SAFER SCHOOL 24-HOUR CARE

ELEA is committed to providing the highest standards of pastoral care, including 24-hour supervision. Staff are carefully background-checked and selected for their suitability to care for children and young people.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

At ELEA our aim is to help you improve your English-language level as you develop important communication skills for your future. Through the wide range of adventures we have planned, you can develop team-building, leadership, and listening skills, along with resilience in an international environment.

In the summer months, the UWC Atlantic campus comes alive with a range of groups, young people and other external events that contribute to a global landscape of learning and exploration.

Many of your leisure moments will be spent with participants from around the world, giving you the unique opportunity to speak English and make international friends.

GUARDME INSURANCE

As part of ELEA, international students living outside of the UK will benefit from GuardMe insurance as part of the course fee:

The policy provides cover for participants including:
– extensive medical coverage up to £10,000,000 that includes treatments at any clinics or hospitals – public or private – for any unexpected medical condition
– medical and quarantine expenses related to Covid-19 if there are no travel restrictions in place
– Digital Doctor: students will be able to schedule an online appointment with a doctor who will also be able to send prescriptions online. This will avoid any long wait for a GP appointment in person.