Acorn International Summer Schools is a family-run business established in 2008. We specialise in working  only with children aged from 7-12 years and all take a hands on role with the day to day teaching and pastoral care at Acorn International.

Steve Richards Steve Richards, B.Ed. (Hons.) (Wales), M.A. (Education) (London), M.Ed. (Open)
Principal
Previously one of the UK’s youngest independent school headmasters, Mr Richards has a wealth of educational experience spanning 30 years and has taught both as a primary and secondary school teacher. He has worked as a consultant for a number of UK-based educational charities and has spoken widely on educational matters, worldwide. In 1985 he established a small family-led independent school, becoming the schools’ first headteacher. In 1999, he established the UK’s first fully online secondary school, providing educational support for students requiring British qualifications whilst living overseas. In 2001 he was a visiting fellow at the NICE, a post-graduate educational institute in Sydney, Australia.
Bethan Southern Bethan Southern, LLB. (Hons.) (Lancaster), PGCE (Primary) (Lancaster), PGC Teaching Bilingual Learners  (Merit) (MMU), PGDip. Teaching Bilingual Learners (Merit) (MMU).
Director of Studies
After successfully completing a law degree, Beth worked at a prestigious International School in the South West of England as an assistant house parent. After gaining her TESOL certificate she started teaching at the school and subsequently trained as a primary school teacher. She now works as Head of EAL in a large inner city school in Manchester, where she has responsibility for providing EFL provision for over 400 children aged from 3 – 18. She is currently studying for an MA in Teaching Bilingual Learners, having already gained both the Post Graduate Certificate and Diploma. This experience, combined with working as Director of a large junior summer school in Somerset means that  has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in both pastoral care and teaching international and British children.
Lyn Richards Lyn Richards, RGN, PGCM (CNAA)
Head of Pastoral Care
After completing her training at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, Lyn spent a number of years nursing in London and the North of England. More recently she has run her own catering business and, after educating her own children at home, she has edited her first book on the experiences of a number of home educating families in the UK. She is highly qualified and experienced and is well placed to lead the pastoral team in providing the highest level of care and medical support for each child attending Acorn International.
Steven Southern, BSc (Hons.) (Lancaster), MA in Research (Lancaster), PGCE (Primary) (Lancaster).
Director of Marketing
Steven graduated in 2003 from Lancaster University with a BSc and MA in Biomedicine.  However, Steven’s interest in teaching English as an additional language began as an undergraduate in 2001 while on a government funded programme teaching English to under-privileged junior and senior aged children in Poland. Here he worked as an English Teacher and boarding assistant and was responsible for all aspects of school life. Since then he has gained a wealth of teaching and pastoral experience in a variety of educational and boarding establishments across the UK – the majority of which being International Summer Schools for children aged 7-16. As a primary trained teacher Steven’s academic background lies in teaching the full range of curriculum subjects but he specialises in Science. He feels that this fascinating subject is excellent for engaging all children, regardless of their background or ability; in all aspects of learning and that it serves as a springboard to improve their English. Steven’s marketing experience developed after working in Qatar for a year as a Marketing Manager at a large multi-national company – whilst here he also developed relationships with numerous Educational Agents across the middle east.
The school also uses a number of other experienced and well-qualified teachers and pastoral staff.