4 June 2025
At the heart of Bucksmore Education’s English summer camp is a team of outstanding educators who do far more than deliver lessons. They stay with their students throughout the day to shape experiences, nurture confidence, and help students from around the world feel seen, supported and inspired – whether they’re in the classroom, out on an excursion, or taking part in activities on campus. This is very much in keeping with the founding principles of Bucksmore as an American-style summer camp, back in the 1990s.
Jamie Leeds, Recruitment Manager at Bucksmore, explains that teacher selection is a carefully managed process.
“We’re looking for professionals who are not only well qualified but who also understand the dynamics of working with international students,” he says. “It’s about more than academic instruction – it’s about connection, empathy and creating a memorable summer.”
As a minimum, every Bucksmore teacher holds a recognised English language teaching qualification, such as CELTA or TEFL, but many have substantial experience in international schools. Their global outlook enriches the classroom and makes the programmes culturally inclusive – a crucial quality in a setting where students from dozens of countries come together. That international environment is key to helping students use English in real, everyday conversations, which reinforces what they’ve learned in class.
“Around 80–90%
of Bucksmore’s teaching team
returns each summer”
Equally important is continuity. Around 80 to 90 percent of Bucksmore’s teaching team returns each summer, an unusually high figure for seasonal education.
“That consistency is something we’re really proud of,” says Jamie. “It ensures we keep our standards high and gives our newer staff strong mentors to learn from.”
Staff like the Centre Manager, Josh Kingdom, now in their 17th summer, and the Director of Studies, returning for their sixth, form the backbone of this reliable and trusted team. Their familiarity with the Bucksmore ethos helps maintain a strong sense of identity and community across all centres. Read more about Josh and his thoughts on English beyond the classroom.
Beyond qualifications and experience, safety and pastoral care sit at the core of Bucksmore’s approach. All staff go through a rigorous safeguarding process, including enhanced DBS checks and international police clearance, including in every country they may have worked in.
Teachers who haven’t worked at Bucksmore before are partnered with experienced teachers for the duration of the summer, through a buddying system. All teachers take part in an in-depth induction before the first students arrive, which covers not just teaching practice, but also welfare responsibilities and safeguarding training. More on Bucksmore’s approach can be found on the Pastoral Care and Safeguarding page.
“Teachers don’t just teach; they live the programme alongside the students”
Teachers don’t just teach; they live the programme alongside the students. They lead excursions, supervise activities, and are available throughout the day – and evening – to offer support, encouragement or simply a friendly chat. It’s this full immersion that helps build trust and allows students to grow in confidence in and out of the classroom. And we think it’s why we see such excellent language development, even in a relatively short time.
Carla, a student from Spain who attended the two-week Intensive English programme at Bucksmore Oxford, was surprised not only at the progress she had made, but also that she was one of only three Spanish speakers on the programme. Watch and listen to Carla’s experience of a two-week Intensive English course in Oxford on TikTok.
With such a strong international mix of students, English is the only viable language for the cultural exchange which is part of daily life, and Bucksmore teachers know how to turn this diversity into a strength – helping learners see new perspectives, refine their language skills, and make friendships that stretch across continents.
As Jamie puts it, “At Bucksmore, we’re not just offering a course. We’re offering a complete experience. The teachers are central to that – they make it all come alive.”
If you’re interested in working at Bucksmore in the future, and you have significant teaching experience with young learners – and you’re a fan of our immersive, international summer camp approach – you can find more information on our Careers page.
You can get to know the Bucksmore staff on TikTok too!
And here’s a link for more information on our full range of English Summer Camp Courses in the UK.