Frequently asked questions

Yes, Castle School is located near the seafront in the centre of Brighton, within easy walking distance of all the sights and high street shops.

The quickest way is to book a flight to London Gatwick airport. From there, or any other UK airport, you can travel by bus or by train to Brighton. See our pre-arrival information, which will be sent to you after enrolment.

Castle School is situated 10 minutes on foot from the train station. All Brighton buses stop at the central bus stop, which is about 1 minute away on foot.

The cost of a single journey anywhere within Brighton is £2.50 and an all day ticket costs £5.00. The price for a weekly ticket is £25.00. Please note these prices are beyond our control and may have changed since this page was last updated.

Where possible the school will advise you on the best way to open a bank account and provide you with a school letter.

Castle School regularly organizes leisure activities such as sports events, cultural events, parties and many more. The school will inform you about the current programme and when it is running. Please note that the leisure program does not run all year round. If you want to take the opportunity to discover neighbouring countries, please check the respective applicable visa conditions. You can also purchase an International Student Card ISIC. This card offers many attractive discounts for travel, accommodation, museums, entertainment, books etc.

We have free internet access for all students.

You can start your course on any Monday (Full time or Part time courses) or Tuesday (Part time courses) See here for more details.

Approximately 20-25.

Students have to have a minimum age of 16 to participate in the main school courses. However, in summer we do offer group courses specifically for younger students. Please email for details. For minors we will require the consent of a parent or guardian.

We have a good mix of different nationalities and cultures at Castle School. The main nationalities being Spanish, Turkish, Italian, Saudi and French.

That depends entirely on your aims.

On average, we estimate that approximately 12 weeks of intensive 30 hours per week study will raise your English by one level.

Maybe you cannot spare 12 whole weeks, though. Remember even a short course will boost your vocabulary, fluency and confidence.

Every student must take an initial placement test on the first day of the course. Based on your performance in these tests, you will be placed into a group with students of a similar level.

See our English level page for a full explanation of English levels at Castle School, and equivalent IELTS, TOEIC AND TOEFL.

Teachers are constantly monitoring students’ levels. When a student has demonstrated the skills required for the next level, the teacher will request for them to be moved. Students can also complete a Change of Level Request Form. A decision will then be made by the Director of Studies or Assistant Director of Studies.

The lessons focus on developing your ability to communicate in a foreign language: to extend your vocabulary and to improve your pronunciation, grammatical knowledge and accuracy of expression. You will have ample opportunity to practise all aspects of your language: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Castle School classes have a maximum of 18 students (summer only) although this is rare and the average is normally less than 10.

You will receive an accurate timetable for your course on the first day. Morning classes are from 9:15 am to 12:30 pm & afternoon classes are 1:15 pm to 4:30 pm, both with a 15 minute break in-between.

Any changes to your course or hours must be approved by the Administration Team, who can be found in the School Reception.

All our teachers have native speaker competence.

You will receive your first course book free when you register at the school. Any additional course books will need to be paid for by you (average cost is between £20 – £30).

You will need to bring a notebook and pen for recording vocabulary, grammar etc and your course book.

That depends on your length of stay, and the progress you make. Students who make good progress will, in consultation with their teacher, be moved to a higher level.

Generally, we recommend booking the desired course prior to the start of the course to ensure availability. Course fees are also cheaper per week for longer courses than for shorter courses.

It is, however, at all times possible to extend a course or to select a more intensive type of course (subject to availability). Contact the responsible person at school as soon as you have made a decision so that they can inform you about fees and availability.

You will receive a certificate confirming your oral and written language ability. You will be graded in accordance with the International Framework for European Languages, which is understood by employers throughout the World.

Check the specific requirements of the course and university you would like to apply to. Most universities in the UK require the IELTS exam.

We offer an IELTS preparation course. Which apart from helping you with the exam will also teach you how to absorb a lot of reading material or follow lectures without problems.

As a free additional service, Castle School staff can offer you professional advice and assistance with gaining entry to a university or college in England.