British English Olympics
British English Olympics
Do you have what it takes to compete against schools from around the world?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
Improve your use of English in real-life situations
Develop the ability to express your academic knowledge
Get a head start on future international academic opportunities
Build knowledge & understanding of other cultures
Improve your critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills
Develop key skills such as leadership, public speaking, team-building, negotiation and debating
About the programme
The British English Olympics expands students’ English and academic skills – whilst also being a lot of fun!
The aim of our English Olympics is to further students’ understanding of the English language while helping them develop skills in leadership, public speaking, team-building and time management – all necessary for future leaders. Team members must work closely together, support one another, and strive to be the best they can be.
Every year the contest focuses on a topical theme which provides a forum for students to explore important global political and social issues. Previous years have been devoted to subjects such as globalisation, sustainable development, the digital revolution and social media.
The competition consists of a series of challenges for the teams, which are assessed and graded by a select panel of judges.
Download Factsheet
Dates
First
Arrival dates
2nd April 2025 to the 16th April 2025Second
Arrival dates
3rd April 2025 to the 17th April 202514
Cultural Programme- Months
- Days
- Hours
Until next competition
Competition Stages
First round
At each of our campuses, schools will be divided into two competition groups of 8-12 teams. These teams will compete against each other in all academic events. The top four teams from each competition group go forward to the semi-finals.
Semi-Finals
Semi-final competition groups are formed by 8 teams mixed from typically two different campuses. The teams compete in two events: a Mystery Event, and their chosen presentation.
Grand Final
The top two teams from each semi-final group will go through to the Grand Final. The Grand Final events are: a Mystery Event & The BEO Debate.
Winner
Runner up Third Place
Judging & prizes
CAMPUS AWARDS
Each campus will hold its own awards ceremony, with trophies awarded for the best performance of every event in each group. There will also be a ‘Fair Play’ award for the school that has contributed most to their campus and shown the best team spirit, along with awards for the talent show and individual excellence.
GRAND AWARD CEREMONY & PRIZES
The climax of the annual British English Olympics is the glittering closing awards ceremony, which takes place at a world-famous London venue and is attended by VIP guests – ambassadors, cultural attachés and business leaders from participating countries.
Cultural Programme
Three extended full-day visits to London, a full-day in Oxford or Cambridge are included in the programme. The programme will also include a visit to one historic / popular city depending in which centre you will be competing, some of the cities we have visit are: Windsor, Brighton, Portsmouth and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Destinations
London, Oxford & Cambridge, Brighton, Windsor, Stratford-upon-Avon &/or Portsmouth
London Attractions
Big Ben & the UK Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey
Museums
The British Museum, The National Gallery
Notable sites
Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street, Leicester Square, The London Eye, Tower Bridge
St. Mary's School
St. Mary's School Ascot
Ardingly College
Unnamed Road, Ardingly, Haywards Heath RH17 6SQ, UK
Benenden School
Greenwood Cottage, Cranbrook Rd, Benenden, Cranbrook TN17 4AA, UK
Oundle School
10 New St, Oundle, Peterborough PE8 4EA, UK
Bradfield College
Bradfield College, Bradfield, Reading RG7, UK
Christ's Hospital School
The Avenue, Horsham RH13, UK
London
Nelson's Column, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5DU, UK
Oxford
100 Market St, Oxford OX1 3DY, UK
Brighton
31 Meeting House Ln, Brighton BN1 1HB, UK
Ascot
Ascot
London Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, Wellington Rd, Middlesex, Longford, Hounslow TW6 1JH, UK
Gatwick Airport
South Terminal, Perimeter Rd E, Horley, Gatwick RH6 0NP, UK
Stansted Airport
Terminal, Enterprise House, Bassingbourn Rd, Stansted CM24 1QW, UK
Locations
St. Mary's School
Ardingly College
Benenden School
Oundle School
Bradfield College
Christ's Hospital School
London
Oxford
Brighton
Ascot
London Heathrow Airport
Gatwick Airport
Stansted Airport
Location & Dates
To host the British English Olympics, we partner with some of the finest schools in the country, set in stunning locations and surrounded by beautiful English countryside. All our partner schools are situated within two hours of London with easy access to international airports. All have large common rooms, and meals are provided on campus, with packed lunches and / or meal vouchers given on excursion days. Sites are highly secure, with combination codes for dormitory access, security patrols and CCTV cameras.
Oxford International staff are housed in the same buildings as the students and are available 24/7 should any issues arise.
Timeline
April 2024
Schools register for the competition
Schools will be able to download guidelines from our website… Accompanying teachers will be able to gain access to clarifications and practice materials.
Teams prepare for the events as part of their extra-curricular programme at school
October 2024
Eligibility & Registration
HOW YOU CAN JOIN THE BRITISH ENGLISH OLYMPICS
The BEO is a highly academic programme and we encourage you to select 10 to 20 of the most gifted students from your school to participate.
ELIGIBILITY
Please complete the registration form that you will find at the top of the page and return it to your local representative. To enter the competition, schools must meet the following criteria:
- Students must be between 12-16 years of age.
- Students should have a minimum of B1+ English level.
- Students must be accompanied by a dedicated teacher having a very high level of English.
One of our experienced team members will be happy to arrange a Skype call to discuss the programme with you in detail prior to enrolling to ensure you are ready to join the programme.