The British Physics Olympiad Senior Physics Challenge (SPC) is a national competition aimed at Year 12 (first year of A-level or equivalent) students. There are two routes: SPC Online, a quiz-style competition made up of two 30-minute multiple-choice sets designed to encourage wider reading and interest in physics; and the traditional paper SPC, a one-hour problem-based paper that challenges students' problem-solving and application of core physics principles.

Both competitions are intended to be taken in school under teacher supervision and are not permitted to be sat remotely. The online event is run via the BPhO Competition Platform and is accessible to capable students (not an Olympiad-level paper). The paper competition uses a problem-set format with past papers recommended for preparation; teachers download papers from the Competition Platform and mark scripts in school using the provided mark scheme.

Entry arrangements vary: SPC Online charges £20 for a school entry (up to 999 students), the paper competition is free for (UK) schools while international schools have a £20 fee for up to 100 students. Results, reports and supporting materials (sample questions, past papers, mark schemes) are available on the Competition Platform. Selected top performers may be invited (with their teacher) to the Royal Society awards.

Film of the Month is an ongoing monthly competition run by Into Film to celebrate young filmmaking talent across the UK. It is open to all young people aged 5–19. Each month one winning film is selected to receive a £100 gift voucher, certificate(s), a feature interview on the Into Film website, and placement on the Into Film YouTube Shorts channel. Runner-up films are also showcased.

The competition accepts any film genre or theme (fiction, non-fiction, live action, or animated). Films must be a maximum of 10 minutes in length, and entrants must ensure any third-party music, images or footage are cleared for use. If you are aged 17 or under, a parent or guardian must provide consent and complete the entrant details when submitting. Educators may submit curricular films on behalf of their students; curricular entries are judged with slightly different criteria to ensure a level playing field.

Entrants must disclose any use of AI tools in the film's creation. Judges assess films on idea, story, sound and look rather than technical kit, and emphasis is placed on originality and creative decisions. There is a new round every month and entries are accepted on an ongoing basis via the Into Film website.

Join Lloyds Banking Group for Skills Fest London, a careers-focused in-person event designed to give attendees a closer look inside the organisation. The event brings together colleagues and future applicants for an interactive experience featuring job simulations and a chance to hear directly about graduate opportunities. The 2026 programme includes sessions on Lloyds' graduate schemes and hiring for September 2027 entry, practical guidance on using AI in job searching, and an exploration of how the business is supporting the shift to sustainable transport. It is a chance to learn more about early careers at Lloyds, ask questions, and get a feel for life inside a major UK bank.

Oxford Summer Courses' Business and Entrepreneurship summer school is hosted at Cambridge University colleges and designed for ambitious 13-15-year-olds who want to explore how businesses are built, run, and grown. Students study core business ideas such as marketing, promotions, customer satisfaction, and profit generation, while also looking at real-world case studies that show how companies attract customers and respond to market demand. The course focuses on active, discussion-based learning in small groups, with tutors adapting sessions to the interests and abilities of the class. Learners also develop entrepreneurial thinking through pitch-style projects, teamwork, competitor analysis, independent research, homework tasks, and reflection activities. Alongside the academic programme, students experience a social and cultural environment that helps them build confidence, collaboration skills, and a stronger understanding of what it takes to turn ideas into action.

Take a guided campus tour of St Mary's University, London and get a feel for what student life is like on one beautiful, single-campus site. You’ll see the university’s facilities and explore the 35 acres of green space that make the campus distinctive. The tour is led by a friendly Student Ambassador, who will share insights into student life and academic opportunities. There will also be time to ask questions about courses, facilities, and what it is like to study at St Mary’s. This is a chance for prospective students to experience the university in person before applying, or while deciding what to study next. After the tour, visitors are welcome to stop by the café or canteen, and can contact the student recruitment team with any questions.

Teen Rangers is a wildlife club for young people aged 11 to 17 who are interested in nature and conservation. It takes place at Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre and offers a chance to spend time outdoors taking part in hands-on activities linked to wildlife and the natural environment. Across the year, participants can explore wildlife such as insects, plants, birds and mammals, while also taking part in conservation work and learning how to use tools safely. The sessions are designed to be active and practical, helping young people build confidence as they learn more about the world around them. The club also includes bushcraft-style activities such as fire lighting and campfire cooking. It is a children-only activity, and a consent form must be completed for each child before attending. The venue is accessible by public transport, with regular buses serving the area.

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.

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.

Discover what it’s like to study Medicine at UCL at the MBBS Undergraduate Open Day. The event includes presentations on the curriculum and teaching approach, clinical skills demonstrations (hands-on and simulation-based learning), and opportunities to learn about placements, student support and student life. You will be able to meet current medical students, ask questions about the application process and entry requirements, and hear from staff involved in the MBBS programme. The event takes place across several accessible venues within the UCL Institute of Education with registration opening on the day. Attendance is free but pre-booking is essential. Book your place via the event registration form (you can register yourself and up to two guests). If you can’t attend after booking, contact fms.education@ucl.ac.uk so your place can be offered to another attendee.

Join a field-based marine conservation project in Pacific Harbour, Fiji, working alongside scientists and dive partners to collect data on sharks and other marine life. Volunteers take part in survey dives, bi-monthly shark dives, mangrove reforestation, community outreach and education, data entry and workshops. The project includes full training: beginners complete the PADI Open Water course during the first two weeks, while experienced divers may complete Advanced or Rescue courses. The placement is supervised by qualified marine biologists and local professionals and runs year-round with a minimum two-week stay. Projects Abroad provides accommodation, three meals daily, airport pick-up, transport to placements, diving equipment rental, access to resources and ongoing in-country support. Flights, visa fees and travel/medical insurance are not included. The experience is aimed at volunteers with an interest in marine biology, conservation or outdoor fieldwork and can strengthen CVs and future applications in conservation and related fields.

The British Astronomy & Astrophysics Olympiad (BAAO), run within the BPhO trust, offers schools across the UK a series of competition papers focused on astronomy and astrophysics. Launched in 2015, the competition is syllabus-independent and builds on core physics applied to astronomical contexts; no prior specialist astronomy modules are assumed. It provides a pathway for students to explore current research topics and to progress to higher education in related fields.

Students are encouraged to attempt the Astro Challenge Paper in the Autumn term and must take at least one of the BPhO Round 1 (November) or the BAAO Round 1 (January). Top performers are invited to the BAAO Round 2 in February, with final selection of the five students who will represent the UK at the IOAA taking place at an Easter training camp in Oxford in April. Past papers and solutions are available online and studying them is strongly recommended to prepare.

Assessment outcomes use medal boundaries (approximately 60%+ Gold, 40%+ Silver, 20%+ Bronze, below 20% Commendation). The BAAO is closely linked with university-based training camps and provides an opportunity for motivated school students (including GCSE and A-level students) to gain advanced problem-solving experience and compete internationally.

Cotswold Archaeology offers a hands-on work experience programme giving students the chance to see behind the scenes of a large commercial archaeology company. Placements are designed for beginners and include workshop sessions and interactive activities across specialist teams. A typical week involves working with the finds team to clean, identify and sort artefacts, attending workshops with the geomatics team and heritage consultants, and learning about illustration, photography and reconstruction techniques. Each participant is paired with a staff mentor and receives timetable information before the placement. Most activities take place in office-based workshops, but there may also be opportunities to visit active excavation sites or community digs. Lunch breaks are typically 45 minutes and students are asked to bring their own food; offices provide kitchen facilities. Applications are managed through Cotswold Archaeology's Volunteer Portal. The scheme is open to students aged 14 and over, no prior experience is required, and Cotswold Archaeology supports reasonable adjustments for disabled or neurodivergent applicants. Parental/carer permission is required for applicants under 18.

Springpod's Journalism Work Experience is a virtual programme introducing learners to different branches of journalism, including print, broadcast, photojournalism and freelance work. The course features quizzes, interactive activities, webinars with industry professionals and practical tasks such as writing articles and broadcast scripts to help students experience real journalistic workflows.

The programme is self-paced within a typical two-week window and includes live webinars (weekday working hours) which are recorded and made available afterwards. There is no strict completion deadline; assignments are reviewed and a certificate is generated once the programme is marked complete. The course is available on demand, and learners can sign up and start immediately via the Springpod platform.

This programme is aimed at school and college students but is explicitly open to anyone aged 13 and over. It is designed to build transferable skills useful for careers in media, communications and related creative industries.

TeenEagle runs an international competitive programme for school-aged participants focused on knowledge, spelling, writing and team debate. Free online practice rounds run monthly and are used to prepare students for official qualifier rounds. Qualifier formats include free online rounds, online regional qualifiers, paper-based local qualifiers organised with partners/schools, and multi-event Regional Round events (including occasional sleep-away formats). Regional Qualifiers are held regularly (online first and third Saturday of each month) and consist of an 80-question combined Spelling & Knowledge test (80 minutes). Passing a qualifier with at least an Honourable Mention (40%+) is required to register for Global Finals. Global Finals (three to four events each season) comprise multiple competitive tasks - Knowledge Quiz, Spelling Bee, The Writing Challenge and Persuasive Speaking (team debates) - with detailed scoring and medals awarded across receptive and productive skills. TeenEagle provides teacher books, student workbooks and a portal for sign-up and event materials. Schools and partners can register to host paper-based qualifiers and regional events; teacher webinars (monthly July-December) and a portal exist to support club-based and school participation. Detailed schedules, booking and logistics are handled through the TeenEagle portal.

Offered by Rice University on Coursera, this course introduces the physics of mechanical energy and momentum. It is designed as a structured, intermediate-level online course for learners who want to strengthen their understanding of mechanics and prepare for more advanced physics study. Across the course, learners explore energy, work, momentum, collisions, statics, elasticity, and conservation principles. The teaching uses video lectures, readings, conceptual quizzes, homework-style assignments, and a final exam, with a strong emphasis on solving physics problems using algebra, vector analysis, graphical analysis, and calculus. The course is flexible and self-paced, with an estimated completion time of two weeks at around 10 hours per week. It is part of the Introduction to Mechanics Specialization and includes a shareable certificate on completion, making it suitable for students building subject knowledge as well as learners looking to refresh core physics concepts.

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.

Teen Rangers at College Lake is a wildlife club for children and young people who love nature and want to get involved at a nature reserve. The sessions are hands-on and outdoors, with wildlife and seasonal activities designed to help participants explore the natural world in a fun, practical way. Across the term, attendees take part in games and activities that build knowledge of wildlife and conservation work, including learning how to use tools safely. The club also helps young people develop scientific knowledge and bushcraft skills, making it a good fit for those who enjoy outdoor learning and environmental topics. Sessions run one Saturday each month during the school term and are held in person at College Lake. The club is for children only, and a parental consent form is required before attendance. A code of conduct applies, and only booked participants may attend.

This virtual work experience provides a comprehensive introduction to the Royal Air Force (RAF). Through videos, interactive activities and quizzes delivered by serving RAF personnel, learners will explore the RAF’s purpose, history, structure, core values, and the range of roles across regulars, reserves, civilians and partners. The programme also covers training, career progression, pay and benefits, and routes into the RAF including apprenticeships and graduate pathways. The course includes insight into the Air Cadets and how young people can get involved, earn qualifications and develop skills relevant to future education and careers. Content is a mix of on-demand modules and live webinars (recordings are made available). Participants who complete the programme earn Rockets and can enter prize draws, and receive a certificate of completion. The programme is delivered on the Springpod platform as a remote/on-demand experience so students can complete material at their own pace within the programme timeframe. Live talks take place during weekday working hours but are recorded for later access.

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.

General Physics is a beginner-level Coursera course offered by Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani. It builds a foundation in core physics concepts through a structured sequence of modules on classical mechanics, thermodynamics, wave motion, optics, interference, diffraction, polarization, and related problem-solving approaches. The course combines video lessons, readings, and assignments, with flexible self-paced learning over about five weeks at roughly ten hours per week. Learners study Newton’s laws, conservation of energy and momentum, harmonic motion, thermodynamics, wave propagation, and the wave nature of light, and can earn a shareable certificate on completion. It is taught in English and is designed for learners building toward further study in engineering, physical sciences, or other analytical fields.