If you would like to, come along to our evening activity after your meal with your host family. This will be in the school canteen and usually starts at 19:45. Please don’t be late, because we lock the doors after some activities have started.

Your homestay family will be friendly and welcoming and will treat you as a member of the family.

You will be the only student who speaks your language in your family unless you have asked to share with a friend or a member of your own family. Your homestay family will encourage you to speak English at all times.

During the week you will have 2 meals a day (breakfast & dinner) at your homestay – in the UK it isn’t common for the family to all sit together for breakfast but you should expect to have the evening meal with your family and other students in the house.

At weekends, if you have made plans, please always tell your homestay family if you won’t be at home for a meal.

We have a lovely canteen at Beet where you can buy a variety of hot and cold food, snacks and drinks – a hot meal and a drink plus a snack costs about £7.50. The canteen stays open most of the day.

At the end of our road there’s a busy high street where you will find lots of restaurants, cafés and shops, so if you want to go out for lunch, there’s lots to choose from!

On Saturdays, you will have lunch with your homestay family – if you are out on an excursion, your family will make you a packed lunch if you want one.

Road Safety in the UK
We drive on the left so it is important when crossing to LOOK RIGHT FIRST! Please use the special crossings for people who are walking (“pedestrians”). Some of these are like the one in the picture above, but most have lights. You need to press the button and wait for the lights to change colour.

Buses
The school and homestay families are in Charminster. You can walk to Bournemouth town centre in 30 minutes, but there is a great bus route.

There is a bus stop at the end of our road and buses come every few minutes. If you’re using the bus every day then you can buy a special bus card so you don’t need to pay each time.

Taxis
Taxis are more expensive but not too much if you’re sharing – a journey into town costs around £8.20.

We recommend students use United Taxis, on 01202 556677, because they’re quick and reliable. When a taxi arrives you will receive a text message on your phone telling you they’re waiting.

If you’re getting a taxi on the street or from a taxi rank, NEVER get into an unlicensed car. All licensed taxis have a special ‘license plates’ on the back of their car with a number.

Bicycles
Another nice way of getting around is by bicycle. There’s a bike shop called “On Yer Bike” at the end of the road where you can rent bikes – To rent a bike for a day costs £12 and to rent one for a week only £15!

You will need to pay a deposit of £70 which the shop will return to you when you return the bicycle.

You don’t have to wear a helmet when you are riding a bicycle in the UK, but you really should wear one! If you hire a bike from On Yer Bike, they will usually lend you a second-hand helmet for free. A new one costs about £20.

If you ride a bicycle here, it’s very important to remember that we drive on the left. Be extra careful when you are at junctions (where roads meet).

✔We have a timetable of scheduled and suggested activities in the afternoons.
✔We have a teacher-guided Conversation Circle every Wednesday afternoon – free cakes & brownies are provided!
✔ The library is open on request until 15:00. You can ask teachers about books and listening materials or even ask for help with your homework.
✔ There are computer rooms you can use for self-study, or to catch up online with your friends.
✔ Table tennis and table football are available.
✔ There are cards and board games in the canteen for you to play with your friends.
✔ If you go into the town centre, make sure that you give yourself enough time to return to your homestay for your evening meal.

1 Respect
Everyone must show respect at all times to other people in the school. No abusive behaviour is acceptable. For example, no abusive behaviour, or negative comments about appearance, age, sex, sexuality, marital status, nationality, race, religion or disability. This includes abusive behaviour on social media like Instagram or Facebook. If you experience any abusive behaviour, you should speak to Alison, the Accommodation & Welfare Manager, about it and we will take appropriate action.

2 Attendance
Students are expected to attend all their lessons. Muslim students are excused from Options lessons on Friday to attend mosque, but all other absences must be approved, in advance if possible, by an Academic Manager. Students must arrive at lessons on time – students who arrive late for a lesson will not be allowed in until the next lesson.

3 Participation
Taking part is important. Students must participate in class activities, complete homework assignments, and be in a fit state to study when on school premises. This means students must not be drunk, under the influence of drugs, dressed inappropriately, or too tired to take part in lessons effectively.

4 English
Students should use English as much as possible, both in and out of the classroom, even in conversation with students from their own country.

5 Smoking
Students must not smoke in the school building or in the road. Please stand away from windows when smoking in the car park. This also applies to vaping.

6 Mobile phones
Your phones should be switched to silent when inside the school building. Mobile phones may be used during lessons with the teacher’s permission, but only for language learning. Students who use their phones for social networking, web browsing, emails or other non-academic purposes will be asked to turn them off. If they refuse to do so, they will be asked to leave the class.

If you break school rules and your behaviour does not improve, your course may be terminated (you will have to leave the school with no refund).

Smoking
Although it is very bad for your health, you can smoke in Britain if you are aged 16-17. However, it is illegal to buy cigarettes, e-cigarettes or tobacco.

Alcohol
You can go into pubs if you are 16-17 years old, but you can’t buy alcohol or, in most cases, drink alcohol. It is also illegal for another person to buy alcohol for anyone under 18.

Drugs
It is illegal to buy or take drugs or ‘legal highs’ – never accept anything anyone offers you! We have a strict NO drugs rule. If you break this rule, you will have to leave the school and return home.

Gambling
Gambling under the age of 18 is illegal.

Tattoos
You cannot get tattoos in the UK if you are under 18.

Stealing
If students are caught stealing anything, they could be arrested by the police and will be sent home immediately. Most shops have CCTV cameras and work closely with the police.

Littering
Littering is illegal. If you drop rubbish on the ground, including cigarette ends, you may be fined up to £80.

Neighbours
We are in a residential area, so when you leave the school at night, please respect our neighbours and don’t make any noise. Don’t lean or sit on cars or garden walls.

E-Safety (internet, tablets, phones)
Students must follow Beet’s E-safety policy. Students mustn’t send abusive messages or inappropriate messages or images. Sending or receiving a sexually explicit message, image or video of people under 18, including yourself, is illegal in the UK.

Valuables
Please carry enough money with you in case you need to take a taxi or get transport back to your homestay, but don’t carry all your cash with you. Don’t take more than one credit card around with you. Be very careful not to lose your passport or national ID card!