Learning, Speaking, and Experiencing.
Here at Skool, we encourage a practical approach to the English language. We explore grammatical issues and exceptions, but we believe in the practice of speaking English above all. Our language holidays are based on a simple timetable – in the morning, you’ll study English; in the afternoon, you can choose between our Art and Culture course, our Water Sports programme, our General English course, or our English with Walking course.
Our goals:
- Practical, conversation-first learning – We focus on real-life communication, helping you improve by speaking and engaging rather than memorising grammar rules.
- Tailored lessons – Our teaching adapts to your needs, making learning relevant, interesting, and effective.
- Engaging content – We bring language to life with materials from British and Cornish history, literature, film, music, and more.
- Small class sizes – With a maximum of six students per class, you get more personal attention and faster progress.
- Expert teachers – Our experienced team ensures you get the best support to build confidence and fluency.
- More than just learning – Mornings are spent learning English while afternoons offer a choice of activities, including Art and Culture, Water Sports, General English, or English with Walking.
Meet our Team:
We have three classrooms and a fantastic group of teachers and team members: Tom, Sam, Kate and Toby. For them, teaching is a vocation: they have many years of experience in teaching, and they all hold master’s qualifications in English. They love what they do.
Toby Keane (Founder)
When I was growing up, the classes I learned most in were those where the teacher recognised my potential and encouraged me. When I disappeared in the crowd, my English teacher found me.
That was 30 years ago. And after 3 degrees and a career teaching for much of my adult life, this is the lesson that that has stayed with me: fewer students – more personal attention.
Tom
When he was about 19, Tom’s Dad asked him what he wanted to be, with the caveat that teaching was not a sensible option (Tom’s Dad, and Mum, and Grandpa, and several aunts and uncles were teachers). Tom was suitably dissuaded and so became a pyrotechnician, specialising in fireworks with live classical music.
At around the same time Tom broke off an engagement, became an actor with a small theatre company in the Midlands (not famous) and bought a sports car. Eventually, however, he realised that being broke and having pathetically short holidays was a poor show and so he became a teacher (great holidays). Teaching qualification in hand Tom ran away to Malawi in pursuit of a beautiful young woman. They married, had two daughters and after 7 years moved to Beijing. 7 years later Tom and his family moved to their most exotic location yet, Cornwall. That’s where Tom’s to.
Sam
Sam grew up in the West Country and after living and working in London and Paris she married a Cornishman and they settled in St Agnes in 2008.
With their 2 daughters. A qualified teacher of Modern Languages, Sam has taught students from age 8-78 in the UK and overseas and loves finding out about their language learning journey.
When not teaching, Sam spends her time walking the dogs and looking after her daughters’ horses. She also bakes a mean scone.
Kate
I’ve spent most of my life traveling the world, living in the Middle East and Australia, before finally settling back in England to start a family.
Now, I call Cornwall home, drawn to its beautiful beaches and the perfect environment to raise my children. I have a little girl and a boy, and our family wouldn’t be complete without our two fluffy cats—one of whom I rescued from Dubai.
Life here feels just right, surrounded by nature and the sea, creating wonderful memories with my family.
Are you interested in learning English with our amazing teachers?
FAQ’s:
What makes Skool Cornwall’s approach to learning English different from other language schools?
At Skool, we focus on teaching English through real-life conversation. While we do cover grammar, our main goal is to help you speak confidently and effectively. Our schedule is simple: You’ll have English lessons in the mornings, and in the afternoons, you can choose from one of our fun experiences. This balance gives you plenty of practice while allowing you to explore your interests. To make sure you get plenty of attention, we keep our class sizes small, with a maximum of six students. This way, you can interact more and progress faster.