English Literature Summer School (In-Person)
If you love literature, you’ll know the pleasure of discovering a new favourite – or of seeing a familiar text in an entirely new light. The English Literature Summer School is designed to deepen that experience, introducing students to a wide range of texts while showing how literature can be read, analysed and debated at university level.
Across five days, students explore the development of English literature from its earliest forms through to modern and contemporary writing, while also engaging with some of the key critical approaches used to interpret it. The course combines close reading with discussion and argument, encouraging students to develop their own responses to challenging and sometimes unfamiliar material.
Topics for 2026 will include:
Anglo-Saxon English * Middle English * Renaissance Literature * Metaphysical Poetry * The Romantic Movement * The Rise of the Novel * Modernism * Literature in Translation * Adaptation and Intertextuality
See a detailed outline for the English Literature Summer School here.
The course is taught through seminars, close textual analysis and collaborative discussion. Students are encouraged to test ideas, challenge interpretations and refine their thinking in a supportive but intellectually ambitious environment.
Our Tutors are selected for their academic strength, clarity of explanation and enthusiasm for the subject. They guide students through complex texts and ideas, helping them to build confidence in their own analytical skills while introducing them to the expectations of undergraduate study.
This course is designed to bridge the gap between school and university, giving students a clearer sense of how English Literature is studied at a higher level and preparing them for further academic work in the subject.
Scroll down for full booking details and practical information.
Lovely Atmosphere
A really great overview of literature. I really enjoyed the expression of form/ content and its importance. I feel way more prepared to write my personal statement and uni interviews ...Don't Hesitate!
Before attending the English Literature Summer School, I was not sure if I wanted to study this subject at higher level, but participating in such an academically driven environment,...A Fantastic Week
I found this Summer School exceptionally useful in broadening my knowledge of literature. It was an enjoyable way of learning more about my chosen subject in a relaxed and ...Completely Inspiring
I absolutely adored the summer school - it was completely inspiring and I enjoyed every second of it! I would have done the week over and over! I would recommend ...Fantastic Conversations
The course has been hugely informative and stimulating for me; it was particularly useful and very interesting to be able to discuss and explore the new information we were receiving as a...Amazing Experience!
It was incredible to meet such a wonderful variety of people my age all united by a passion for literature. Everyone was so engaged and we were able to have ...Felt Like Finding Home
Aside from reading as much good literature and as many literary critics as you can, this will be the single most important week in your pathway to being a...Brilliant Students
As a budding English Literature student, in the process of starting my personal statement, I was eager to broaden my knowledge and experience of what degree level literature looked like...New Interests
A thorough overview of the key literary movements within England. This course is great for any prospective English literature university students. It introduced me to writers and texts that I ...Uplifted and Educated
I would absolutely recommend this course to anyone doing A-Level English or considering studying English at University. The week left me feeling inspired and wanting to learn more about the...Amazing!
The English Literature Summer School was amazing! Not only was the tutor engaging and enthusiastic, but the content itself was highly informative and stretched across a range of texts and across...Thoroughly Enjoyable
My week at Debate Chamber was the best of my whole summer holiday. The teachers were intelligent and focused and we moved at the perfect pace. I felt so informed...Friendly and Enjoyable
I found this course really stimulating. It encapsulated a lot; from close reading to explanations and questions formed on literary criticism and movements. We also explored how literature fit ...New Concepts
This was a super engaging course that both expanded my previous knowledge of the subject and got me thinking about new concepts and ideas. I would definitely recommend it to ...Group Discussions
The course runs through the history of English literature, from old / middle English to postmodernism. It was interesting to understand the way it has developed and all the different...Excellent Tutors
My week at the English Literature Summer School has been an invaluable experience and has aided my existing knowledge of English Literature greatly. For an aspiring English student at University, ...Completely Worthwhile
I would fully recommend this course to any English student thinking of carrying on this subject to university level as it provides a fantastic grounding in a wide spectrum of literature....Expert Tutors
Debate Chamber’s English Summer School was an amazingly inspiring experience. Informative and enjoyable, its the perfect way to really enrich your personal statement and reach Oxbridge worthy knowledge in your...Highly Recommended
I enjoyed a fantastic week at the Debate Chamber, covering the Romantics right up to contemporary prose and poetry. Remarkably, no detail was skimped on – we covered a...English Literature Summer School – Practical Details
The in-person English Literature Summer School is open to students aged 15–18, and will take place on Mon 27th – Fri 31st July 2026. The teaching day will run from 10.30am – 4.30pm, with a break for lunch.
📍 Location: Woburn House, Bloomsbury, Central London (nearest tube: Russell Square) [See more location details]. Please note: This is a non-residential course, so accommodation must be arranged independently if needed.
💰 Course Fee: £845
🔒 Booking: Secure your place with a 25% non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is due eight weeks before the course starts. [See full booking terms and conditions here.]
📞 Questions? Call us on 0800 810 1058 or email [email protected].
Debate Chamber offers a limited number of full and partial bursaries to students who could not otherwise afford to attend. If you would like to apply for a bursary then please complete your bursary application here.