Celebrating 20 Years of ISSOS

In 2005, our CEO Jen Munro founded ISSOS with a clear vision: to create an international summer school that combined the community spirit of a summer camp with the academic excellence of a leading educational programme.

Now, 20 years on, ISSOS has grown into an award-winning summer school for students aged 13–18, welcoming over 600 students each year across our campuses in St Andrews, Cambridge and Yale.

From 51 Students to a Global Community

ISSOS welcomed its first cohort in 2006, hosting 51 students in St Andrews. Since then, we have expanded to three prestigious university campuses and four sessions each summer — while remaining intentionally small in structure.

Each session is limited to 150 students, allowing us to maintain a genuine family atmosphere. Every student is known by name. Staff and students build strong relationships, and the sense of belonging that defines ISSOS continues long after summer ends.

Every year, students from over 100 nationalities join our programmes. With nationality limits in place, our international summer school offers meaningful cultural exchange and a truly global community.

A Balanced Summer Programme for Teenagers

At ISSOS, students create their own personalised timetable, choosing academic and elective classes that reflect their interests and ambitions.

Our summer programmes for teenagers are built around:

• Academic excellence

• Personal development

• Creative enrichment

• International understanding.

  
  

Students challenge themselves in the classroom, develop new skills through electives, and grow in confidence through evening events, team activities and leadership opportunities.

The result is more than a summer abroad — it’s a transformational experience that shapes futures.

Inspiring and Safe Locations

Our summer school locations in St Andrews, Cambridge and Yale were carefully selected for their inspiring and secure environments.

Each campus offers students the opportunity to experience life at a world-renowned university, explore historic cities and gain independence in a safe and supportive setting. Our experienced teams ensure that students feel encouraged, included and cared for throughout their time with us.

The People Behind ISSOS

What truly sets ISSOS apart from other UK summer schools and international summer programmes is our people. We are proud to remain a small head office team, meaning families communicate directly with dedicated staff who understand their needs. Our academic and elective teachers are chosen not only for their qualifications but for their passion and expertise. Many of our counselors and senior managers are full-time educators who bring professionalism and care to every campus.

Across all three locations, our mission remains unchanged: to create a safe place for people to learn and grow.

Celebrating 20 Years Through Our Alumni Voices

To mark our 20th anniversary, we invited former students to reflect on what ISSOS meant to them and how their summer experience shaped their confidence, independence and future paths. Watch our 20-year celebration video here and hear directly from two alumni as they share their ISSOS journey.

Looking Ahead

From 51 students in one location to a global community spanning the UK and USA, ISSOS has evolved significantly over the past two decades — while staying true to its founding vision. As we celebrate 20 years, we are grateful to every student, family and team member who has been part of our journey.

Here’s to 20 years of confidence built, friendships formed and horizons expanded — and to many more summers of The Experience of a Lifetime.