I did an intensive PPL course at Clacton back in 1990, lot of 'bottling up' before hand meant exams weren't an issue and flying was great.
Do go for the Super cub if you can stretch that little extra, great plane and a much better grounding than the 152/172, navigational exercises are generally easier as East Anglia has precious few TMA's or restricted air space (excepting Stansted).