JUNE 26-28. MEDIA STUDIES 16-19. Organised by the British Film Institute at National Film Theatre and Museum of the Moving Image, South Bank, London SE1, for teachers of A-level and GNVQ media studies. Presentations, seminars, workshops. Fee: Pounds 141 non-residential. Details: Nicky North, 0171 255 1444.

JUNE 29-SEPTEMBER 6. INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOLS: EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY. One to three-week courses on Scottish Gaelic, creative writing, archaeology in Scotland, Scotland through the ages, drama, Scottish architecture, film, Edinburgh Festival arts, piano, new writing in English, and nature conservation in Scotland. Accommodation available from Pounds 20 per night. Fees from around Pounds 150 per week. Details: Bridget Stevens, 0131 650 4375.

JUNE 30-SEPTEMBER 28. STUDY HOLIDAYS: DILLINGTON HOUSE, ILMINSTER, SOMERSET. Residential courses lasting up to a week include: intermediate and advanced silk painting, foundations for drawing and painting, “getting it write”, wet in wet landscape painting, Japanese stencil dyeing, calligraphy, guitar summer school, bobbin lacemaking, rambles, the Pharaohs, the Anglo-Saxons, and hat making. Prices start at Pounds 250 residential, Pounds 150 non-res. Details: 01460 55866.

JULY-AUGUST. LANCASTER SUMMER UNIVERSITY. Courses for pleasure or counting towards a degree include: information technology; introductions to Japanese, German, Chinese; post GCSE French; introductions to biblical Hebrew, medieval Latin, New Testament Greek, Sanskrit, law; children’s literature; ethics; and writing a dissertation. Plus summer schools on theatre, the Romantics, and British history and culture. Details: Claire Backhouse, 01524 849494; e-mail: Summer.University@lancaster.ac.uk.

JULY 5-6. BETTER SCIENCE. The Association for Science Education’s northern conference for teachers will be held at University College of Trinity and All Saints, Leeds University. Key speaker: Neville Evans, HMI Wales, plus a visit by the “Stardome” and “Physidome” inflatable hemispheres, and 60 workshops ranging from Dearing’s 16-19 review to teaching primary science through stories and making and flying model rockets. Fee: Pounds 73, Pounds 48 members non-residential. Day rates and accommodation available. Details: Phil Ramsden, 01484 864432.

JULY 6. EXPRESS YOURSELF IN SCIENCE. International pupils’ conference organised by Pupil Researcher Initiative at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxfordshire, free admission. Aspiring journalists in secondary schools are invited to cover it for a pupil science journal. Guest speaker: Ken Campbell (of TV’s Reality on the Rocks) plus talks on latest research in space and genetic engineering; internet activities; and competitions. Sponsored by Engineering and Physical Sciences and Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Councils. Details: telfax Tony Sherborne, 01235 44594; e-mail: a.j.sherborne@rl.ac.uk JULY 8-29. UKEC EUROPEAN HERITAGE CAMPUS. Students from every European country, based at a choice of 19 campuses throughout Europe, contribute to the preservation of historical monuments and buildings of outstanding architectural value. The British project is a survey of the Bankside heritage and its potential for local regeneration based at Porlock Hall, London SE1. Details: Mary Van de Water, 0171 357 7075.

JULY 12-OCTOBER 27. SHORT COURSES FOR MUSIC LOVERS. A different facet of music is explored every weekend at Jackdaws Educational Trust, Great Elm, Frome, Somerset. Themes include: Elizabethan song, oboe workshop, harp weekend, composition for teachers and solos in oratorio. Fee: Pounds 99 all-inclusive. Details: 01373 812383.

JULY 15-19. LOCAL PASTS, LOCAL FUTURES. How can local history be used to improve the future? The Deptford summer school at Goldsmiths’ College, London SE14, will examine how to rescue historic buildings, run community history projects and bring local history alive in schools. Fee: Pounds 45, Pounds 30 concessions, Pounds 20 Deptford residents. Details: Jess Steele, 0181 692 7115 or Goldsmiths’ Centre for Continuing and Community Education, 0171 919 7200.

JULY 15-AUGUST 9. SEPTEMBER 2-27. CORDON BLEU: NEW ESSENTIALS. From breakfast to buffet, coffee morning to cocktail party, this Le Cordon Bleu Institute course in London W1 lays down the foundations of culinary skills. Suitable for gap year students, chalet work and entertaining with style. Fee: Pounds 1,600. Details: Susan Eckstein, 0171 935 3503.

JULY 21-28. EARLY MUSIC. AUGUST 19-23. SUMMER MUSIC FOR 10- to 18-YEAR-OLDS. Two summer schools organised by the Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff. At the first, singers and players from all over the world will take up residence at St Donat’s Castle, Llantwit Major. Details: 01222 372175. At the second (in the college), beginners and advanced students on any instrument will join in improvisation, jazz, music technology and composition. Fee: Pounds 50 non-residential. Details: Sally Craven, 01222 394665.

JULY 26-AUGUST 2. BAROQUE DANCE. Dolmetsch Historical Dance Society’s annual event at Hengrave Hall, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, will explore the notated dances of Lorin, Favier, Feuillet and their contemporaries. Beginners, experienced amateurs and dance specialists welcome. The programme includes lectures, a concert and a reconstruction of a Royal Birthnight Ball in Queen Anne’s honour. Fee: Pounds 381, Pounds 366 members. Details: DHDS Summer School, Redmire, Ardley End, Hatfield Heath, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM22 7AL.

JULY 29-AUGUST 23. THE HISTORY OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE IN THE WEST. The Victoria and Albert Museum’s summer course will explore the main developments in architecture, sculpture, painting, design and the decorative arts in two slide lectures a day and a choice of talks in the galleries. Fee: Pounds 300, Pounds 240 concessions. Weekly fee: Pounds 85, Pounds 68 concessions; Pounds 22, Pounds 5 concessions day rate. Details of this and other courses: 0171 938 8638.

AUGUST 1-5. CHORAL CONDUCTORS. Presented by the Association of British Choral Directors at Aberdeen University as part of the city’s International Youth Festival. For conductors of any experience, the programme includes masterclass sessions with a studio choir and the Total Aberdeen Youth Choir. Tutors: Max Frey, Munich Musikhochschule, and Christopher Bell, TAYC and National Youth Choir of Scotland. Fee: Pounds 185, Pounds 130 members non-residential (includes free admission to Festival events). Details: Philip Redfern, 01684 892288.

AUGUST 3-23. WEST DEAN COLLEGE, CHICHESTER. Courses on textiles, ceramics, wood sculpture, jewellery making and photography are on offer plus several on drawing, watercolours, and oil painting. Details: 01243 811301.

AUGUST 18-25. MEDITERRANEAN JAZZ. Experienced English jazz musicianstutors and students of all levels will learn, play and improvise together at the picturesque 17th-century “Domaine”, near Sete, Languedoc, France. The programme includes rehearsals for small group and big band, local attractions, food and wine of the region, and a final performance in a nearby jazz venue. Tutors include: Simon Purcell and Martin Hathaway, jazz professors at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Fee: Pounds 375 (excluding travel). Detailsfrom Clive Fenner on 0181 989 9345.