Host Families

Living in a homestay is especially beneficial as you have the opportunity to practise English in a family environment and experience multicultural British family life.

Families are selected carefully and our families accommodate our students because they enjoy hosting international students.

Both schools – London and Hastings – offer homestay accommodation with a local family.

Our partner company for placing students with host families in London is Hosts International. Hosts International meets the standards for registration with the British Council as a provider of homestay and private home accommodation for adults(over 16 years) for accredited providers.

Our families in Hastings are arranged and inspected by Hastings school staff.

Standard Homestay (London and Hastings)

• Situated in a suburban location mostly in zone 3 and 4 of the London underground Network / with good bus connection to the school in Hastings /
• Located near good transport links to the city centre – average journey time 45 minutes London, 20 minutes Hastings
• Cape Town host families are generally located in Green Point, Sea Point and Bo Kaap, close to the school. Some are within walking distance

Families offer:

• Bed & Breakfast (breakfast provided)
• Half Board (breakfast and dinner provided)
• Self catering (No food provided. Students can use the kitchen to prepare meals)
• The student has the use of the house as a family member and there is a laundry service available
• Most of our families offer Internet (WiFi). Please let us know if it is essential for you

Executive Homestay (London)

• These families are of a slightly higher calibre and are situated in zone 2 and 3 of the London underground network
• In busy periods, (especially summer) Superior homes are located up to zone 4 concentrating on quality of accommodation
• Some have private bathroom facilities
• Some offer shared bathroom with one other student of the same sex

The locations are usually closer to the centre of the city than the Standard families but offer the same accommodation package as the above:

• Bed & Breakfast (breakfast provided)
• Half Board (breakfast and dinner provided)
• Self catering (No food provided. Students can use the kitchen to prepare meals)
• The student has the use of the house as a family member and there is a laundry service available
• WiFi Internet access is provided

Notes on UK Homestay:

• Please note, London is a very large city and students will not be living within walking distance of the school. Average journey time on public transport to the school is 40 minutes.
• London is very multicultural so we can offer students host families able to cater to certain dietary requirements. We can also normally offer students a choice between standard homestay or executive homestay
• Please be honest about smoking. Most families do not smoke. Most permit smoking outside but not inside the house.
• British people love pets. Most families have pets and they usually live inside the house. If you do not want to live in a family with pets, you need to indicate this on your application form.
• Britain is a very multi-ethnic society. Our host families are from different ethnic backgrounds and religions and will eat different types of food. This is normal in Britain and students must be aware of this.

LONDON HOST FAMILIES EXTRA CHARGES:

If a student staying in a host family goes away on holiday but leaves all their belongings at the host family, they will be charged half the normal weekly rate for the time they are not in the room. This is because the family are unable to offer this room to other students in your absence.

Please note that in order to secure accommodation for you we need to receive full payment for this 4 weeks in advance. 

Please also note that the price for accommodation quoted on the Invoice is valid for 48 hours from the date of the Invoice, after that it is subject to change.