About UsCountry Cousins is one of the oldest 'English as a Foreign language' providers in England. We are a small family run business which has been providing high quality English educational visits to Junior students and families since 1951.
We make sure that we know all our students by name, and we aim to help all our students to achieve their personal goals. Students get all our support and attention 24 hours a day. We offer a wide range of programmes and activities to make learning English an enjoyable experience.
Emphasis is placed on improving speaking and listening skills, pronunciation, vocabulary and functional language. Materials are bright, lively and up-to-date, particularly suited to short-length courses. Speech is initiated through many media; from pair work and group work to individual presentations, group discussions, debates, role-plays and simulations, music, drama and games.
Jose Brinkmann - Managing Director
Jose is the ever-energetic MD who can often be found charging up and down the school drive, if not at his desk thinking of new and exciting excursions and activities for the students. Feel free to talk to him at any time; he is a really approachable person who will always do his best to resolve any questions or situations that might arise.
He was a student of Country Cousins for many years. He then worked as an activity leader whilst doing his University Education in York (UK) and Santa Cruz (California). After 8 years working as an IT Manager for Ford Motor Company in London, he liked the company so much, that he bought it!
Maribel Cabrera - Marketing & Welfare Director
She is a calming and serene influence on the office and can always be relied upon to produce some chocolate biscuits from somewhere if the team's energy levels dip. She is a lovely person who is very approachable and has great psychology skills & empathy for understanding children.
Before Country Cousins, she worked for 6 years for American Express as a Marketing Executive in central London.
Patricia Swan - Management Consultant
The well-respected former owner of Country Cousins, who is lovingly overseeing a smooth hand-over of the company to long time friends Jose and Maribel. Tricia's broad smile is always ready to greet old clients and friends. Tricia has made Country Cousins the business it is and is very happy that it will be moving onwards and upwards in such capable hands.
triciaswan@country-cousins.com
David Hedderly - Transport & Bureau de Change Manager
David is our cheerful Transport Manager who manages our Minibuses to and from the Airports and is our finance supremo! (He’s an ex Bank Manager, that’s why!). He is your man for any travel questions, including trips to London. Beware of his sharp sense of humour!
Colin Mairs - Academic Manager 
Colin is our professional Academic Manager. The Scotsman in the team is a keen reader, guitar player, and loves computers. He is a great mentor and always has time for his teachers.
Cherry Squires - Welfare and Accommodation Officer
MUM!!!!! Cherry is the caring and attentive Welfare and Accommodation Officer. Cherry has been with the company for over 30 years!! (The older the wiser!) Usually found attached to a telephone arranging host families for students. She is everyone’s mum and provides a warm smile and friendly ear to staff and students alike. If you are ever wondering why you can understand what she says, is because her voice is so impeccably BBC!
Julie Mayling - Secretary and Personal Assistant
Julie’s impeccable English has stood her in good stead in her many years at Country Cousins; she has been with the company since 1993. Julie is the secretary, assistant to the Directors and first aider. She is a friendly person with a BOOMING laugh and helpful nature. She has a big appetite, so if she's not at her desk you will probably find Julie somewhere near the kitchen or vending machines!
Michelle Schofield - Accommodation and Welfare officer 
Michelle worked for us in 2007 as an Activity Leader and we were so impressed by her dedication and efficiency that we approached her with regards to joining us full time in the Welfare department, where she now works closely with Cherry and the Ilfracombe host families. Michelle is a caring mother of two, with a large personality, who loves a good laugh.
Spencer Nasey - Adventure Sports Programme Manager 
Spencer is the most active man of us all! He loves to swap tea-stories with Colin, however his main job is being the sports coordinator! Spencer loves working with young people; surfing, kayaking, coasteering, orienteering, archery, rafting - you name it, Spencer does it. A kind man who will bend over backwards to help out if he can, so feel free to ask him anything - watching him bend over backwards is quite a sight!
Kyrian Okeremi - Tennis Programme Manager
Kyrian is our professional tennis coach who, when not teaching on the courts, can be found playing tennis on the courts! He loves music and is a keen family man, who enjoys spending time with his partner and children.
Cathrine Page - Centre Manager St. Michael's Residential
Cat started working with Country Cousins in 2002 as a seasonal Activity Leader and then joined the full time team in 2006 as the St. Michael's Residential Centre Manager. Her parents hosted our students for many years, so Cat has first hand experience of many aspects of the company. She has a bubbly, happy personality, which brightens any room she walks into.
Matt Boni – Activity Leader, Driver and Channel school Caretaker
Man of many talents! He is a cheerful, helpful member of the team who is equally happy maintaining the school grounds, helping out in the office or running around playing football with the students. In fact he plays for Ilfracombe Town’s Football Team in his spare time. When not playing football, he loves fishing. He enjoys a good laugh and is always smiling.
Matt Chamberlain – Student Security Coordinator
Matt is in charge of evening security for the students. He can be found patrolling Ilfracombe town centre and seafront areas, and driving the little children home after evening events. He is also happy to help us in the role of Activity Leader if needed. His presence around the town has made a real difference to students’ confidence and they know that he is only seconds away if they need him.
Rebecca Varley – Ballet and Modern Dance teacher
Rebecca is the newest member of the team and is really looking forward to tutoring students on our Ballet & Modern Dance Programme. She is highly qualified and experienced in teaching all forms of dance and all aged students. She is athletic and friendly, with boundless energy which makes all those around her feel at ease.
Liz Harwood - London Heathrow Escort
Liz is our extremely efficient escort who organises her busy team to ensure that all students arriving at Heathrow Airport are successfully met and taken to the correct vehicle to their destination. Liz is a very capable woman who knows the airport and a lot of its staff well, which means she can respond effectively and swiftly should any problems arise.
Sarah Jefferies – Riding Instructor
Sarah has had a love of horses all of her life and now owns and runs a very exclusive riding stables. She has excellent staff helping her, but often tutors herself as she enjoys teaching and loves watching riders’ confidence and ability grow.
David Elliott – Willingcott Valley Golf Pro
David is our patient and attentive golf Pro. He truly loves the game and enjoys passing his knowledge onto the next generation and beyond. His many hours on the golf course, both tutoring and for pleasure, keep him healthy and happy. This man lives for golf!
Charlie - Public Relations
Charlie is the lovely school dog! He plays the most important role in the school: Public Relations. He enjoys eating people’s leftovers, demanding walks and attention, and generally being around should anyone need a bit of company or if he happens to see someone’s lunch on the floor! A great friend to all and very, very approachable!
Our Mission Statement
To deliver a high quality education and training service, appropriate to the lifelong learning needs and aspirations of our clients, in a diverse range of settings, providing exceptional service and opportunity to our:
Students
leading to successful careers and lives;
Employees ...
in support of their continuing quest for professional development, excellence and innovation;
Partners ...
so that they can successfully compete in changing markets; and
Region ...
to sustain it as a great place in which to live, work and learn.
Our Shared Values
Our values are the guiding principles by which our behaviours and accountabilities manifest delivering dreams through unlimited learning" to the individual human beings whom we serve. They are:
Integrity ...
We will behave and communicate sincerely and honestly.
Respect for the Individual ...
We will treat everyone with dignity and offer superior service.
Educational Justice for All...
We will champion learners who have barriers to success.
Market-Driven Innovation ...
We will be a best-in-practice learning solutions provider.
Commitment to our customers ...
We will be professional, trustworthy, accurate and timely.
Personal and Team Accountability...
We will do what we say we will do.
North Devon and Exmoor are blessed with beautiful landscapes and exceptional environments. North Devon is known as "England 's green & pleasant land" - over 850 square miles of some of Britain 's finest coast and countryside. Seemingly endless stretches of sandy beaches with extraordinary dune systems and interesting coves and caves, make North Devon’s coastline one of the finest in the world.The areas to explore include the only International Biosphere Reserve in this country, a Marine Nature Reserve coastline and the perfectly formed Exmoor National Park. A holiday in North Devon is full of contrast - from some of the most stunning coastlines and beaches in Britain to the wilds of remote Exmoor and the traditional rolling hills of Tarka Country. For more information, please visit www.northdevon.com
The population of Ilfracombe is approximately 12,000 in winter, rising to around 20,000 in the summer. Channel School, however, is the only permanent language school in the town and so the student population in the town is always low, even at peak holiday time.
Ilfracombe provides a safe, clean and healthy environment away from the stress of city life and is a perfect destination for all ages. For teenagers it offers the type of freedom they may be unable to experience at home. For adults it is a place where some of the old traditional England can still be enjoyed and where local people still have time to talk to you.
Barnstaple is a bustling town, nestling in the valley of the River Taw, seven miles from the mouth of the river, with a population of approximately 25,000 residents. Barnstaple is known as the capital of North Devon. For centuries it has been the centre of agriculture and commerce, and it was the first town with Borough status in the country to celebrate its 1000 year anniversary.
This progressive town has a unique character brought about by an interesting blend of history and progress, and of tradition and development. Its position makes Barnstaple the shopping centre for the whole of North Devon and its major shopping areas combine a mixture of national stores and local family businesses.
A most significant factor in the town's development is its position as the centre of a great tourist industry. The town is the centre of North Devon with roads from it leading to Ilfracombe, Lynton, Taunton , Tiverton, Exeter and Bideford. In spite of its important position the town remains largely unspoilt and is one of the most delightful country towns in England .
16th Century Bideford was Britain's third largest port. Today, the narrow town centre streets lead down to the tree lined quay which bustles with fishing vessels, cargo and pleasure boats. The impressive 24 arch stone bridge built in 1535 leads to the coastal path cycleway and to the disused railway line which is part of the Tarka Trail. The town itself has a thriving shopping centre, friendly cafes and pubs. Victoria Park provides plenty of interest for the students - with playground equipment and paddling pool.
Many of our customers are choosing to fly to Exeter and Bristol airports, as it involves less travelling time (2 hours max.) to our centres in North Devon.
Tiverton train station is only two hours away from London Paddington (direct train).
Channel School is in Ilfracombe.
St. Michael's Residential is in Tawstock, near Barnstaple.
1. Exeter Airport Transfers
Exeter airport is the closest airport to North Devon. It takes anywhere between 70 to 90 minutes from door to door. It is a small airport which means that service and turnaround are very fast.
Different airlines operate from this airport to different countries and destinations, please visit www.exeter-airport.co.uk for more information.
The main airline in Exeter airport is Flybe, www.flybe.com and operates in the following countries and destinations:
| AUSTRIA | BULGARIA | FRANCE | GREECE | ITALY | MADEIRA | NETHERLANDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salzburg | Bourgas | Brest Bergerac Charmery Paris CDG Rennes |
Corfu Crete |
Verona | Fuchal | Amsterdam |
| PORTUGAL | SPAIN | SWITZERLAND | TUNISIA | TURKEY |
| Faro | Alicante Málaga Murcia Palma Menoría Ibiza Lanzarote Tenerife Las Palmas |
Geneva | Monastir | Antalya Bodrum Dalaman |
2. Bristol Airport Transfers
Bristol airport is about 2 hours from North Devon. Different airlines operate from this airport to different countries. Please visit www.bristolairport.co.uk for more information.
Below is a summary of countries and destinations:
| AUSTRIA | BELGIUM | BULGARIA | CORSICA | CROATIA | CYPRUS | CZECH REPUBLIC | EGYPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innsbruck Salzburg |
Brussels | Bourgas Plovdiv Varna |
Bastia Calvi |
Pula Rijeka Split |
Larnaca Paphos |
Prague | Hurghada Sharm El SheikhTaba |
| FINLAND | FRANCE | GAMBIA | GERMANY | GREECE | MOROCCO | NETHERLANDS | HUNGARY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enontekio Ivalo Kittila Rovaniemi |
Bergerac Bordeaux Chambery Grenoble La Rochelle Marseille Nice Paris Toulouse |
Banjul | Berlin Bremen Dusseldorf Frankfurt Hamburg Munich |
Corfu Crete Halkidiki Kalamata Kavala Kefalonia Kos Preveza Rhodes Skiathos Zanteh |
Agadir | Amsterdam | Budapest |
| ITALY | POLAND | PORTUGAL | SPAIN | SWITZERLAND | TUNISIA | TURKEY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergamo Brescia Milan Naples Pisa Rome Turin Venice Verona |
Krakow | Faro Madeira |
Alicante Barcelona Girona Madrid Málaga Murcia Reus Valencia Ibiza Mahon Palma Fuerteventura Gran Canaria Lanzarote Tenerife |
Geneva Zurich |
Monastir | Antalya Bodrum Dalaman |
3. Heathrow Airport Transfers
Flights must arrive at Heathrow Airport before 14:00 hours and leave after 13:30. Country Cousins’ coaches depart from Heathrow at approximately 15:30 hours and not before. Early arrivals must be prepared to wait. If there is sufficient demand, coaches may also pick up at St. Pancras International, Victoria or Gatwick.
The escort meets students at the Customs Exit, and coordinates the transfer to one of our Country Cousins vehicles. Our escort on arrival is, therefore, compulsory but we would advise an escort on both arrival and departure, particularly for younger students.
Country Cousins’ bus on Saturdays from London Heathrow is £30 one way, £55 return per person.
4. Gatwick Airport Transfers
If a student arrives at Gatwick Airport on a date when our Heathrow bus is operating, one of our representatives will meet and escort to London Heathrow Airport to board the coach. Flights to Gatwick airport should not arrive after 12:00 and departures should be between 12:45 and 15:00
5. Luton Airport Transfers
If a student arrives at Luton Airport on a date when our Heathrow bus is operating, one of our representatives will meet and escort to London Heathrow Airport to board the coach. Flights to Luton airport should not arrive after 12:00 and departures should be between 12:45 and 15:00
6. Stansted Airport Transfers
If a student arrives at Stansted Airport on a date when our Heathrow bus is operating, one of our representatives will meet and escort to London Heathrow Airport to board the coach. Flights to Stansted airport should not arrive after 12:00 and departures should be between 12:45 and 15:00
7. St. Pancras International or Victoria Stations Transfers
If a student arrives at St. Pancras International or Victoria on a date when our Heathrow bus is operating, one of our representatives will meet and escort to London Heathrow Airport to board the coach. Eurostar trains to St. Pancras should not arrive before 11:15 and departures should be between 12:45 and 15:00
8. Plymouth & Portsmouth Ferry Ports Transfers
We can arrange escorted travel from/to Plymouth & Portsmouth Ferry Ports. Please contact us for prices and details.