Write on Art is a national writing programme run by Art UK in partnership with the Paul Mellon Centre. It invites young people aged 13 6-9 to explore Art UK's digital catalogue of public art collections and to develop personal, creative and critical written responses to artworks. The programme includes a competition element with a prize; full details of the prize and how to enter are available on the Art UK website. Participants are encouraged to research artworks in the UK public collection, reflect on them, and present those reflections as creative or critical writing. The programme aims to develop skills in observation, interpretation and communication through written work and to offer opportunities for young writers to have their work recognised. Visit the Art UK Write on Art page for entry instructions, submission guidelines and timelines.

CREST Awards (run by the British Science Association) are nationally and internationally recognised STEM awards that validate student-led projects across science, engineering, maths, computing and related subjects. The page explains that CREST is valued by UCAS and employers as evidence of independent research, project management, problem solving and practical science skills, and can be referenced in university personal statements.

Awards are offered at multiple levels with guidance for typical ages and expected project time: Star (3-7), SuperStar (7-11), Discovery (11-14), Bronze (11+ ~10 hours), Silver (14+ ~30 hours) and Gold (16+ ~70 hours). Projects can be practical investigations, design & make, research or communication and can be run in schools, clubs, youth groups or at home. Gold and Silver are externally assessed.

Applications are submitted via the CREST application platform (apply.crestawards.org). Applicants upload project work, complete profile forms, and pay entry fees by invoice; Silver/Gold projects are assessed after payment (assessment typically 2-6 weeks). CREST provides resources, guidance on assessment criteria and funding support (including Engage Grants) to help schools in challenging circumstances.

Fitzwilliam College’s Foundation Year Taster Day is an in-person visit for students interested in the Cambridge Arts and Humanities Foundation Year. The event gives attendees a chance to spend time at Fitzwilliam College, meet current students, and hear from staff and academics about what studying at Cambridge could involve. The day includes workshops that explain the Foundation Year and the application process, alongside taster sessions in subjects that participants may be able to study. It is designed to help prospective applicants understand the programme, what it is like to study in this area, and how to prepare a strong application. The event is aimed at students in Years 12 and 13. The college also notes that priority is given to students and schools from its Link Areas and other underrepresented regions, and encourages attendees to check the Foundation Year eligibility requirements before applying.

The National Film & Screen Saturday Club introduces young people aged 13-16 to opportunities across the film and screen industries. Sessions combine creative thinking and technical skills to help participants explore directing, cinematography, editing, sound design, VFX and animation. Club members take part in practical workshops covering filming, editing, sound and lighting, and develop transferable skills such as production planning, budgeting and creative problem-solving. Members will also take part in national events including masterclasses with industry professionals and the Summer Show, where Saturday Clubs nationwide exhibit their work in a public exhibition. Materials for sessions are provided by the club; participants are asked to bring a snack and refreshments. By enrolling at Activate Learning you will be part of the National Saturday Club and the data of enrolled members will be shared with the National Saturday Club for administrative purposes. The programme aims to open doors to further education and career pathways in the creative industries after GCSEs.

This is a virtual politics work experience programme designed to introduce students to a range of careers within politics and related fields. Through videos, interactive activities and workplace-style projects you will explore what MPs do, the role of political assistants, the variety of careers within the civil service, and the skills required for political journalism. The programme finishes with a downloadable portfolio of your work.

The course includes modules that cover careers beyond parliament - for example roles in charities, the not-for-profit sector, human rights and law - and provides practical activities to build students' understanding and transferable skills. Live webinars supplement the online content; these take place during weekday working hours but are recorded and made available afterwards.

There is no strict cut-off deadline for completing the programme once you have access. After completing the required tasks and assignments you will receive a certificate of completion. The programme is run on Springpod's platform and is available on demand.

CPDN (climateprediction.net) is a University of Oxford-based volunteer computing project that runs climate modelling experiments using the spare processing power of volunteers' home computers. Volunteers install the BOINC client, join the Climateprediction.net project, and allow climate models to run in the background on their machines. The project is not-for-profit and is run by a team of climate scientists, computing experts and graduate students in partnership with researchers worldwide.

Volunteers help run large ensembles of global and regional climate models which are computationally intensive and require many small contributions from ordinary computers. Participation is suitable for anyone with a compatible personal computer and an interest in supporting climate science; no formal qualifications are required. Key practical steps are to download and install the BOINC client, register a CPDN account, add the Climateprediction.net project to BOINC, and configure preferences (for example to suspend work while the computer is in use).

Participants can access technical FAQs and community message boards for setup help and discussion. The role offers engagement with climate research, opportunities to learn about modelling and data, and membership of a global volunteer community, but it does not provide a formal qualification or paid work.

The University of Leicester Medical School Outreach programme offers a broad set of free activities for school students to learn about careers in medicine and what studying medicine at university involves. Provision includes virtual taster sessions (e.g., diabetes, sepsis), study-skill sessions for A-level students, targeted applying-to-medicine talks for Years 10-133, virtual work-related projects (with Observe GP) and on-campus Post-16 University Experience Days.

Progression programmes are provided through partnerships such as AccessLeicester, Pathways to Medicine (Sutton Trust) and the national Realising Opportunities Programme, primarily supporting Year 12 students. Students on these progression programmes can attend UCAT workshops, receive MMI support and a variety of taster sessions. In recognition of these programmes, students who complete them will be guaranteed an interview for A100/A199 entry routes and may receive an alternative offer (A100: AAA alternative; A199 remains BBB), subject to UCAT and GCSE minimum requirements.

The outreach team also run talks and workshops in schools (Years 7-3) and larger on-campus events (for example an AI in Medical and Health Professions Education symposium) that include refreshments and practical sessions. For general enquiries and booking staff provide emails and online booking links for each event.

The Fashion School offers Arts Award qualifications (Bronze and Silver) that are nationally recognised and operate at a similar level to GCSEs. The programme is open to anyone aged 11+ and is designed for young people interested in fashion, sewing, design and textiles. Students develop leadership, independent learning, communication, planning and fashion knowledge through project-based work and tutor support.

Work for the Arts Award is completed across weekly term classes and at home, supported by an Arts Award trained tutor. Bronze typically involves four 15-minute one-to-one sessions and up to 60 hours of work; Silver involves six 15-minute one-to-one sessions and up to 95 hours. Students are expected to document their process (sketchbooks, diaries, photos), research designers, attend at least one fashion event or trip, and present their project to others.

The programme prepares students for further education and employment in creative fields. Parents and students should note that enrolment requires attendance in a weekly term class; some additional one-to-one tutorials are available at extra cost. For questions or to sign up, contact the school directly.

WEP’s High School Exchange Programme gives secondary school students the chance to spend 1 to 11 months overseas, living and studying in another country. It is designed for young people who want to step outside their comfort zone, experience a different education system, and develop greater confidence, maturity and independence while discovering a new culture. Participants live with a carefully screened host family, attend a local school full time, and take part in everyday life in their host community. The programme is built around cultural immersion: learning another language, adapting to new routines, and making friendships through school, family life and local activities. WEP also provides support before departure, during the exchange and in emergencies, helping students and families feel prepared throughout the experience.

Smart Futures is a youth programme run by the EY Foundation that combines paid work experience, interactive employability skills training and mentoring for young people in Year 12 (England) or S5 (Scotland). The programme is run with employer partners and is designed to give participants practical insight into different industries and working environments while building transferable skills and confidence.

Participants take part in up to two weeks of employability training and workshops, receive a business mentor who supports them through the programme and beyond, and complete paid work experience placements during school holidays. Programmes are industry-specific in some locations (for example Business & Finance, Tech Futures, STEM Futures, Real Estate Futures, Data/Actuarial streams) but are suitable for young people unsure of their exact career path.

Smart Futures runs across many UK locations (including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Bradford, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Reading and Luton) with multiple term-time, February, Easter, spring and summer cohorts. Applications are via an online form and shortlisted applicants are invited to a short telephone interview.

This is a virtual charity-focused work experience programme that introduces participants to careers within registered charities and the skills required to work in the sector. Through interactive content, quizzes, projects and webinars, learners explore areas such as volunteer management, fundraising and policy development. The programme includes recorded webinars featuring charity professionals and culminates in a project and self-assessments to consolidate learning.

The programme is available on demand, with live webinar sessions delivered during weekday working hours (recordings provided). It is open to anyone aged 13+ and awards a downloadable certificate on completion. Students can complete material at their own pace within the course timeframe; assignments are reviewed and marked, and live sessions are accessible as recordings if participants cannot attend.

Quantum in the Summer is an annual summer school from the Quantum Engineering Technology Labs at the University of Bristol. It brings together A-level students who want to explore physics, engineering and the ideas behind quantum technologies in more depth.

The programme combines lectures and hands-on lab work, introducing topics such as classical optics, quantum mechanics, quantum computing and algorithms, and quantum key distribution. Students also hear from scientists about their career journeys and the range of opportunities open to people with a scientific degree.

The summer school is designed for motivated students with a strong mathematical background and a genuine interest in physics and related subjects. It also includes evening socials so participants can meet each other and build a wider network within the cohort.

The Norfolk Cambridge Society Student Awards 2026/2027 is a competitive awards scheme for students attending any Norfolk school sixth form or sixth form college. Applicants may submit work in their chosen format: an essay, a short video or audio file, or artwork in any medium. The scheme is intended to support students thinking about applying to university and to provide financial help to successful applicants.

Entrants must submit their entry by midnight on 28 January 2027. A shortlist of applicants will be interviewed via Zoom and winners will be decided by the panel. Awards of up to A3600 will be made to winners, with awards scheduled to be announced by the end of March 2027.

More information will be available from participating colleges in September. Prospective applicants can register now to receive further details by emailing awards@norfolkcambridgesociety.org.uk.

Floreat is Balliol College’s year-long academic access programme for Year 12 students at UK state schools who are interested in humanities subjects and in applying to Oxford or another highly competitive university. It is designed to challenge academically able students and support them in exploring academic ideas beyond their school curriculum.

The programme is delivered through weekly online seminars on Wednesday evenings from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm, beginning in Spring Term and ending shortly after Easter. Students are expected to complete preparatory work in advance of each session, such as essays or research briefs, and they also attend an Oxbridge admissions talk and a two-night residential stay in Oxford, where they take part in an Oxford-style tutorial.

Floreat is free of charge. Balliol says travel support is available for the residential trip for participants whose households fall within IMD Decile 1 or 2. The programme is aimed at able students who want to develop their confidence, academic skills and understanding of university study in a supportive environment.

The ORT JUMP Mentoring Programme pairs Year 12 students with professionals from a wide range of industries to provide personalised career guidance and industry insight. The programme runs across partner schools (primarily in London and one in Manchester) and supports students to explore career paths such as medicine, law, finance, psychology, engineering, aviation and scientific research.

Over the course of the academic year students and mentors complete full training and meet on four occasions either online or in a public place. Mentors receive guidance from ORT JUMP Programme Managers, must complete online training, follow a code of good practice and undergo an enhanced DBS check. Where possible students are offered workplace tours, the chance to attend real meetings and access to career-focused events and webinars hosted by panels of experts; these events are open to all sixth form students in partner schools.

Students are required to submit one creative piece reflecting on their mentoring experience (essay, video, poster or other) by mid-May; winners are announced at the ORT JUMP Mentoring Programme Graduation in July. The programme also works in partnership with Gateways to provide additional support to vulnerable young people.

The mA*ths Online Programme at The University of Manchester is an outreach programme for A-level Mathematics students aimed at supporting those with the potential to achieve A/A* in A-level Maths. It is delivered in collaboration with Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI) and Imperial College London, and combines online study with tailored mentoring and face-to-face masterclasses on the University of Manchester campus.

Participants receive online mentoring from current University of Manchester students and take part in two structured Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) focused on challenging A-level topics, with practice questions and assessments to track progress. The programme also includes one-day introductory masterclasses (on campus) to meet mentors and one-day closing masterclasses to consolidate learning and prepare for final A-level examinations.

The programme targets pupils from communities underrepresented in higher education and is restricted to applicants from eligible north west postcodes. Applications for Year 12 programmes are open via the application link; applications for the Year 13 programme are marked as closed on the page. For further information applicants can contact mathsonline@manchester.ac.uk.

The World Photography Organisation’s Youth competition celebrates standout single images created by photographers aged 19 and under. Entry is free, and each entrant can submit up to three images related to the competition theme through the official website or one of the official Sony World Photography Award websites.

Entrants must upload original photographic work taken in 2026, and images are judged as single images rather than as a series. A shortlist of up to 10 photographers is selected, with global press exposure and online promotion available to shortlisted entrants.

The overall winner receives Sony Digital Imaging equipment, a trophy, certificate, copy of the book, inclusion in the annual book and exhibition, plus flights and accommodation to attend the black-tie awards ceremony in London. Winners are announced online and at the ceremony in April 2027.

Surrey County Archaeological Unit offers a range of volunteering opportunities across fieldwork and post-excavation activities. Summer community projects include excavations, surveys and field walking; no previous experience is needed and training is provided. Volunteers can join digs during the warmer months to gain hands-on experience in archaeological field techniques.

Year-round Wednesday sessions are held at the Surrey History Centre in Woking, focused on processing finds and samples; these sessions run 11:00-16:00 and require booking. The unit also provides limited work experience placements targeted at students in Year 11, sixth form and college, and publishes career resources online for those considering heritage and archaeological careers.

To get involved or for further details about placements, sessions and summer projects, contact the Surrey County Archaeological Unit directly. Note that placement availability can be limited, so early enquiries are recommended.

The Veritas AI Fellowship is an online, mentored programme where participants develop a novel AI project over 12-15 weeks. Each fellow works independently on a project while receiving regular one-to-one mentorship from an AI practitioner or researcher, with 12 scheduled 1-1 sessions and opportunities to present work to peers. The programme is structured into three phases: Weeks 1-4 for exploration and learning (identifying a research question and suitable ML model), Weeks 5-8 for ideation and data exploration (assessing feasibility and resources), and Weeks 9-15 for execution (building the final project and troubleshooting with a mentor). The course is delivered entirely online. Applicants must have a basic understanding of Python or have completed the AI Scholars programme. The fellowship accepts high school students and advanced middle school students. A programme brochure is available for more details (https://drive.google.com/file/d/14jzUDrIy0AX7V-Hx74GTw7seFBjVTPHP/view?usp=sharing).

This online taster morning introduces prospective Year 10 and 11 students to physics and related subjects at university. It is designed for young people who are thinking about their A-level choices and want a clearer sense of what studying physics or astrophysics beyond school could look like. The session features interactive workshops that showcase some favourite parts of the subject, along with a talk about studying physics at university. Students will also have the chance to put questions to a panel of current undergraduates, making it a useful opportunity to hear directly from people already studying the subject. The event is delivered live online and will also be available as on-demand videos for later catch-up. Those joining the live session can take part in the discussion and interact with speakers through the webinar platform.