Vincent Smidowicz is one of those rare educators whose influence reaches across generations. With roots in summer school education stretching back to the 1970s, Vincent has taught countless students – “thousands, hundreds of thousands, almost certainly,” as he reflects with characteristic understatement. Today, he’s a key part of the Academic Summer team, sharing his expertise as Academic Principal with both students and staff.
What’s remarkable is that Vincent was once told by his headmaster that he would never go to university. “I wasn’t a natural academic,” he recalls. Yet years later, his last post before joining Academic Summer was as a consultant for the University of Cambridge. “Experts are not always right,” he says with a smile.
At Academic Summer, Vincent brings his wealth of knowledge and wisdom to bear on every aspect of the experience from teaching to assessment to leadership. His teaching philosophy centres on two powerful ideas: seeing learning from the student’s perspective, and measuring success by personal best, not by comparison. “It’s not how good you are in other people’s opinion,” he says. “It’s how much effort you put into it.”
He’s also something of a legend among students known for his charisma, warmth and sharp wit. In fact, it’s not unusual for Vincent to receive spontaneous standing ovations from his classes, a testament to the lasting impression he makes. Al Gibson caught up with him to talk about his journey and the value of summer camps in today’s world.
Vincent Smidowicz, Principal Academic Summer at David Game College
An interview with Vincent Smidowicz
Al Gibson: Vincent, you’ve been involved in summer schools since the 1970s. What has kept you passionate about this work?
Vincent Smidowicz: Teaching should be fun and learning should be engaging. I’ve always believed that. From my early days as a language teacher when things were more experimental, to now working at Academic Summer, the joy has never left me. I still learn something new every day. Plus I’m a bit of a showman!
Al Gibson: Is it true that your students often clap after your lessons? Why do you think that is?
Vincent Smidowicz: I don’t know, and I think if I questioned it, they probably would stop. So I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. I keep getting invited back, so don’t query it, just go along with it! What I will say is that Academic Summer is not just about teaching you mathematics and geography. It’s teaching you to think, to learn to communicate as a young geographer, young historian, young scientist and that is worthy of applause.
Al Gibson: What would you say to parents considering a summer school for their child?
Vincent Smidowicz: Think about your child. If they’re curious, if they want to learn then Academic Summer is ideal. We push students to try new things not to be perfect, but to explore. But if they just need a break, maybe they’re better off with a simple holiday. You must know your child. In the same way we must know our students.
We don’t position ourselves as the master of all languages. We start with the student, by asking, What do you know? What can you construct? We must see things from the perspective of the learner. We can’t just say, “This is everything I know. We ask “What do you know?” So we turn things around and in the process we demonstrate how to express yourself and communicate your message.
Al Gibson: So what’s the return on investment for parents?
Vincent Smidowicz: It’s much more than they expect. Sometimes it’s transformational. One parent told us their child came home not only more confident, but more focused and expressive. Our weekly reports keep parents connected to the journey. We’ve had students say that Academic Summer gave them clarity about their future, or even changed their academic direction. It’s not just a camp, it’s an investment in who your child is becoming.
Al Gibson: What makes Academic Summer different?
Vincent Smidowicz: As I said, we’re not just teaching subjects. We’re training students to think, to learn and to communicate. That’s why I love the CLIL approach – Content and Language Integrated Learning. It’s about learning English through the subject, not separate from it.
There’s very good reasons why people want to learn a subject through English and there’s no point being the greatest technician, the greatest scientist, if you can’t communicate. CLIL can make a huge difference in empowering experts in their field, its dynamic and students love it. We’re still developing this awareness and it’s a great privilege.
Vincent Smidowicz and Dr Giedrė Balčytytė with a student at David Game College.
Al Gibson: You’re also known for your reportback to parents. Can you tell us about that?
Vincent Smidowicz: We don’t wait until the end of the course. We give weekly reports. They’re personal, not tick boxes. They say what the student has done, how they’ve grown and what they could do better. Parents love them. And I monitor every single one. Yes, that’s hundreds each week.
Al Gibson: You’ve taught thousands of students. Is there a moment that stands out?
Vincent Smidowicz: Many. But one I remember clearly… a student from France told she wasn’t good at art. She came to me unsure. I gave her an artbook and asked her what she wanted to paint. She chose Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and created a beautiful version. She was pleased. She discovered something new in herself.
Al Gibson: And finally, your message to students?
Vincent Smidowicz: Come with an open mind. Throw yourself in. We’ll challenge you, but we’ll also support you. Don’t expect everything to be easy. But by the end of week one, most students realise they’re part of something special and that’s what we want – to help you become who you really are.
Summer School can change your life, or it can just be a very pleasant two, three or four weeks. You’re going to meet nationalities that I never met when I was a teenager. You’re going to get opinions. You’re not going to be told that your opinion is wrong, you’re going to be told it’s your opinion. Express it freely, courteously and with sensitivity to others.
You are going to work hard, but you’re also going to play in the afternoons. If you’re at David Game College, you’ll be going to the Tower of London and the Bank of England. Then in the evenings, we get together socially, then you’re going to sleep and have nice dreams!
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Thinking of summer camp? Vincent Smidowicz shares why Academic Summer could change your child’s life
Discover the story of Vincent Smidowicz, a veteran educator who’s taught thousands and now inspires students at Academic Summer. From standing ovations to weekly reports, read why his philosophy of personal best makes a lasting impact. He chats to Al Gibson about CLIL, confidence-building and what truly makes a summer camp transformative.
Al Gibson is a business journalist based in Exeter. He started Countdown Creative in 2020 offering copywriting services to local companies, charities and organisations.
