Director of Studies

Summer Boarding Courses; Folkestone; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational institution in Folkestone is seeking a Director of Studies to manage its summer academic programme. The role requires strong leadership and excellent communication skills to oversee class organisations and ensure effective lesson delivery. Candidates should have a TEFLQ status and prior experience in academic management within a summer school setting. Offers include a competitive salary of £1010 per week and accommodation. Join a supportive environment focused on student development and well-being.

Benefits

Paid on-site training

Accommodation included

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Experience in Academic Management required.
• Experience in residential international summer schools is essential.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to work under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Manage the academic programme and ensure its smooth operation.
• Lead and support the academic team while monitoring performance.
• Teach when necessary to cover for absent teachers.

Skills

Strong leadership

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Experience with young people

Flexibility

Education

First degree

TEFLQ status

Job description

Contract Dates: 26/06/2026 to 17/08/2026

The Role

The Summer School Director of Studies manages the Academic Programme, ensuring its smooth operation throughout the summer. They oversee class organisation, teacher support, and lesson delivery, while creating a positive, safe environment for students. Strong leadership, communication, organisational, and administrative skills are essential, as well as experience working with young people in a dynamic setting.

Responsible To

The Summer Course Leader and the SBC Academic Management Team in Head Office

The Site

Located just under an hour from London by train, Folkestone is a stunning coastal town renowned for its vibrant arts scene. Since 2002, Earlscliffe has welcomed young people from around the globe to its courses, offering the opportunity to learn English in Kent, famously known as the Garden of England, while fostering cultural exchange and understanding.

Situated in Folkestone’s historic West End, Earlscliffe boasts an open campus featuring a blend of charming traditional buildings and modern, newly refurbished boarding houses and classrooms. The campus is ideally located within a five‑minute walk of the town’s picturesque pebble beaches.

At Earlscliffe, our courses balance rigorous academic study, engaging activities, and enriching experiences. As a single‑site school, we ensure exceptional quality by maintaining complete control over every aspect of the programmes we deliver. With a curriculum rooted in 21st‑century skills—collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity—our students are inspired and challenged by course content tailored to their generation’s goals and global perspectives.

Ways We Support Our Directors Of Studies

• We will cover the full cost of a new DBS (if required) for your first contract working with SBC. We encourage all staff to sign up for the Update Service
• Extensive, paid, on‑site training prior to student arrival
• Accommodation included
• CPD and Appraisals
• Staff Wellbeing Initiative
• Access to Employee Assist Programme (EAP)
• Continual support for all staff from the Head Office Team, both on the ground and via phone/email
• Online safeguarding and prevent training
• Professional, fun and supportive environment

Additional Role Specific Support

• Paid attendance to pre‑course Management Training

Remuneration

The salary for the Director of Studies role is £1010 per week (subject to tax and national insurance), paid weekly in arrears (for the avoidance of doubt this sum includes a holiday allowance at 12.07% of basic pay in the sum of £108.78), plus accommodation at the summer site.

Main Duties

Academic Programme Delivery

• Take overall responsibility for implementing and monitoring the performance of the Academic Programme.
• Organise the students into classes and inform both students and teachers of their classes and levels.
• Keep clear and accurate records of class attendance and work covered.
• Organise all aspects of the weekly academic ‘Time to Shine’ ceremony following the procedural notes and guidance given by the SBC Head Office Academic Management Team.
• Ensure reports and leavers’ certificates are produced on time.
• Be the point of contact for SBC Head Office regarding the Academic Programme.
• Provide feedback on the SBC syllabus and academic processes at the end of the summer.

Team Management

• Lead the summer school academic team, holding daily meetings and being the point of contact for EFL Teachers and Subject Teachers regarding the academic programme.
• Support, manage, and guide teachers whilst carrying out lesson observations, observation feedback, and CPD workshops/idea sessions.
• Teach when necessary to provide cover for absent teachers.
• Be responsible for pre‑arrival academic setup and effectively induct teachers at the beginning of the summer school.
• Conduct appraisals, address performance issues and provide ongoing support with input from the Course Leader and Head Office.

Resources, Facilities, Safety & Compliance

• Oversee procurement, storage, distribution, and maintenance of all academic programme stock, ensuring compliance with financial and quality guidelines.
• Set up the Teachers’ Preparation room with appropriate signage and maintain it as a functioning workspace.
• Ensure classrooms and other academic programme spaces are welcoming, clean, organised, and meet safety requirements.
• Ensure safe delivery of the academic programme by following safety protocols, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring compliance with safeguarding and student supervision policies.

Safeguarding Duties

Be committed to the safeguarding and welfare of students in your care. Complete online safeguarding training and attend on‑site safeguarding training during induction week. To read and understand SBC’s Safeguarding Policy, Staff Handbook, Operations Policy Handbook and Part 1 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (including annexes A & B). To be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect, and report any concerns to the DSO immediately (including low level concerns). To know what to do if a student tells a member of staff they are being abused, exploited or neglected. To help students understand how to keep themselves safe and manage risk; earning their trust while maintaining professional boundaries. Please see the attached Job description for a more complete list of the duties associated with this Management role.

About You

SBC PERSON SPECIFICATION

All members of staff employed by SBC will be expected to bring certain key qualities to the operation. There must be a professional interest in working with young people and particularly international children. Safety and welfare of the students is of paramount importance at SBC and a practical enforcing of this belief should be a quality exhibited by all staff.

We Look For Staff Who Are

• Approachable & empathic to the needs of students
• Enthusiastic & engaging
• Diplomatic, responsible & motivated
• Flexible within the summer school environment

We expect all SBC staff to be able to communicate effectively with our students, using an appropriate level of language to suit the group. SBC staff must demonstrate patience, empathy and an emotional awareness towards students both individually and in within a group setting. We expect all staff to take control of students and to manage discipline and behavioural issues in a firm, positive and constructive manner.

Essential

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• TEFLQ status (I.e. Delta, Trinity Diploma, MA TESOL or accredited equivalent)
• A first degree
• Experience in Academic Management
• Strong communication skills, ability to work under pressure, flexibility
• Strong organisational skills
• Experience in residential international summer schools

Desirable

• Experience of residential international summer schools
• Experience of the UK boarding environment
• Experience of working within the education sector
• Experience of residential international boarding

About Us

Founded in 2008, Summer Boarding Courses have united students from around the world through education. Delivering award‑winning, future‑focused courses that strike the perfect balance between academic and social enrichment.

Our courses unlock potential and ignite a spark for long‑term success.

Our residential summer courses take place at some of the UK’s top boarding schools and university college campuses, including Eton College, Oxford University Colleges and Headington School. We carefully select our campuses to ensure that they provide the perfect environment for our students to live and study.

Over 15,800 students from 152 nationalities have been welcomed to study with us to date.

Whether it’s preparing for future studies, developing 21st‑century skills or building confidence, the knowledge gained on an SBC course allows students to go forward and apply what they have learnt to other areas of their education and beyond; giving them the necessary skills to achieve their future goals.

The EL Gazette publishes a league table based on British Council inspections, and SBC have been ranked Number 1 from 2018 to 2023. We are very proud of this achievement and will continue to grow and develop our courses to offer students extraordinary experiences.

SBC is the only multi‑campus summer school provider in the UK to have achieved a perfect 15/15 areas of strength by the British Council. A true hallmark of educational quality.

TO APPLY

We want to make sure we do all we can to set candidates up for success in this process. If you require any adjustments to help you at interview and/or you have any questions at all, please contact us at: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

Please note, as this post involves direct contact with vulnerable children, it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

However, amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account.

SHOULD YOU BE SUCCESSFUL

• Any gaps in your CV will be enquired about and must be explained satisfactorily
• You will have to prove your Right to Work in the UK
• You will provide the details of two recent and relevant referees who we will contact and specifically ask about your suitability to work with children and any concerns.
• You will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS), and equivalent if you live, or have lived, outside of the UK
• You will be asked to state that you have no known reason why you cannot work with children
• Official identification and certificates will be required for our records

Please be aware that SBC may conduct online searches for shortlisted candidates as part of our legal duty to meet out safeguarding duties.

SBC SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Summer Boarding Courses is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We have a comprehensive Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and procedures in place which all employees, volunteers and contractors are expected to adhere to.

SBC EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT

We operate a policy of equal opportunities and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of sex, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin or disability.