Working with secondary schools and colleges
We aim to support and enhance learning, helping young people broaden their experience and skills, as well as helping them find their way to university if that’s the path they choose. Here you’ll find details of programmes the °×С½ãÂÛ̳ East Schools Engagement team manage and run, and links to °×С½ãÂÛ̳ departments who offer activities to east London schools.ÌýActivities are free for schools in the four boroughs closest to °×С½ãÂÛ̳ East: Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest unless otherwise stated.
How to get involved
Arts
Supported by students and staff from The Slade School of Fine Art and °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Art Museum, we explore ideas and techniques that inspire students in their own creative work.
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Printmaking
Duration: 2 days
Overview:
Introduction to the art of drypoint etching giving practical printmaking skills.
Students will make drawings from original prints to learn about technique, symbolism and composition. They will meet °×С½ãÂÛ̳ students who will talk to them about studying Art, before practicing the printing technique themselves.
Structure:
Day 1 - Visit °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Art Museum to draw from prints, visit to Slade Print Studio to understand the technique
Day 2 - Artist led hands-on workshop in your school/ college.
Key Info:
Key Stage 4-5
18 students maximum
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Humanities
°×С½ãÂÛ̳ museums and collections are home to ancient artefacts, specimens and rare documents. We regularly use them to inspire work in humanities subjects, creating a link between the past and present.
°×С½ãÂÛ̳ Special Collections
Overview:
°×С½ãÂÛ̳ Library Special Collections is one of the foremost university collections of manuscripts, archives and rare books in the UK. They use their unique collection to create meaningful experiences and free resources aimed at enriching pupils’ learning and inspiring teachers. They also run an annual careers-focused project for young adults in East London calledThe New Curators ProjectÌýandÌýhave a dedicated schools and outreach programmeÌýrun by the Head of Outreach Vicky Price
Key Info:
Usually one-off sessions in person or a series of shorter sessions delivered online.
Key stages 2-5 and A2 English language
English
The Department of English Language and Literature at °×С½ãÂÛ̳ is one of the most enduring and respected in Britain, with a varied syllabus that combines traditional literary skills and modern thought.Ìý
If you are an English teacher in a school or sixth form college, or are involved in outreach or access to university at your institution and would be interested in holding some kind of event with °×С½ãÂÛ̳ for your students, be it in your school or on the °×С½ãÂÛ̳ campus please contact us using the details below.
Contact: Natasha Clark
Email: n.clark@ucl.ac.uk
Englicious: Grammar resources for teachers
The online workshops Englicious provides reliable and fun English grammar resources for parents, teachers, and schools.Ìý has hundreds of free resources to help primary, secondary and further education teachers support their learners in using English grammar. The resources are authentic, engaging and dynamic, meaning they can be used over again with newly generated examples, and they are in line with the National Curriculum.ÌýEnglicious also runs online and in-person CPD training sessions on grammar and its terminology as well as how to best teach it in engaging and meaningful ways. See a short video of Englicious in action here ()Ìýor search Englicious on social media.
Languages at °×С½ãÂÛ̳
Find out about opportunities for schools in the °×С½ãÂÛ̳ School of European Languages, Culture and Society at their outreach website.
Gaia: ‘Poetry and the Planet’ Schools Programme
Overview
'Poetry and the Planet' was developed as part of °×С½ãÂÛ̳ East's Schools Programme and the Gaia Public Programme, the latter being a cultural initiative showcasing specially commissioned arts projects. These projects interrogate the many challenges that our planet and humanity faces, while celebrating the potential for future living. ‘Poetry and the Planet’Ìý is open to secondary schools from Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Hackney
Structure
Pupils participate in poetry workshops with acclaimed poet Anneliese Amoah and hear from innovative °×С½ãÂÛ̳ climate researchers. Workshops take place on campus and in schools. The poems written by the pupils are then gathered into a digital and printed anthology with an opportunity to perform them in front of an invited audience at °×С½ãÂÛ̳ East. Scan the QR code below to see ‘Seeds for Change: Poetry and the Planet Anthology Volume One’
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Key Info
If your school would like to participate in ‘Poetry and the Planet’ programme please express your interest to the °×С½ãÂÛ̳ East Schools Engagement team east.schools@ucl.ac.uk
Sciences
Those taking part in our programmes have access to the specialist knowledge of °×С½ãÂÛ̳ students, and hands-on learning opportunities using exciting new technologies.
The Bartlett, °×С½ãÂÛ̳’s Faculty of the Built EnvironmentÌý
The Bartlett Outreach Team works with schools to encourage prospective learners to study at The Bartlett, °×С½ãÂÛ̳’s Faculty of the Built Environment, which includes architecture, urban design, planning, construction, public policy, environment, energy and resources. The Bartlett has new courses at °×С½ãÂÛ̳ East. The outreach team’s goal is to increase the proportion of students from underrepresented groups in the faculty.Ìý
See the Bartlett schools page for what they offer and contact bartlett.outreach@ucl.ac.uk
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Bio-robotics and Animal MovementÌý
Overview
Our bio-inspired robotics project explores the links between robots, computer programming and animal movement, specifically that of snakes and caterpillars.
Over millions of years creatures have adapted to their environments and evolved unique specialisations. Today’s scientists and engineers are drawing inspiration from the animal kingdom in creating the next generation of robots to help us to solve some of the biggest challenges facing humankind.
Structure
The project runs over a term to include:
- A twilight CPD session for teachers
- An Animal Locomotion schools’ workshop in the Grant Museum of Zoology
- A tour of our world-class university led by our students
- Loan of a bioinspired robotics kit to your school with technical support from our students
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ChemistryÌý
Chemistry outreach programmes have been designed to get students excited about chemistry, to show them the real-life applications of chemistry and explore the depth and breadth of how chemistry influences the world we live in.Ìý
The following events are run in schools for groups of 100+ students:
- Spectroscopy in a Suitcase
- Visits by Student Ambassadors
- Chemical Demonstrations
- Chemistry Lectures and talks
For more activities, see the Chemistry outreach page or contact Outreach & Public Engagement Coordinator Dr River Riley r.riley@ucl.ac.ukÌý
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Earth Sciences / Geology
GeoBox
Overview:
A free curriculum-based loan box of geology themed resources produced by the School’s Engagement team in collaboration with the °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Earth Sciences department that brings samples of rocks, minerals and fossils to school students in east London.
Structure:
The Geobox contains lesson plans, resources and guidelines. It is a resource that can be used by teachers to introduce these topics into the classroom or as a revision tool.Ìý The Geobox is aimed at KS2 pupils and is available for schools in east London to borrow for up to half a term.
Key info:
To book the GeoBox please email east.schools@ucl.ac.uk
Teachers are also welcome to book a free GeoBox °×С½ãÂÛ̳ online interactive workshop with a member of the Earth Sciences department over ZOOM. The online workshops offer additional curriculum support and allow students the opportunity to learn from an expert in geology.Ìý
Please note, the online interactive workshops are now fully booked for the rest of the 23/24 academic year.
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°×С½ãÂÛ̳ Engineering
Overview
Led by the °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Engineering faculty these sessions support the school curriculum. Undergraduate and postgraduate students provide on-going academic support to pupils in schools via one-to-one or small group tutoring, helping students to build confidence, skills and subject understanding.
Structure
Weekly one-to-one tutoring in primary and secondary schools.
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Physics and Astronomy
The Physics and Astronomy department is committed to engaging and inspiring the young physicists of the future. They offer activities to schools, linked both to the National Curriculum and to the exciting research undertaken at the University. They are happy to visit schools but can also host small school groups in order to give them an experience of University.Ìý
Contact Outreach Coordinator: Mark Fuller
Email: mark.fuller@ucl.ac.ukÌý
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°×С½ãÂÛ̳ School of Pharmacy
Take a 1-hour VR tour of a lab: during the tour, students ‘walk through’ the spaces and interact with the lab equipment in front of them. Students hear from a leading academic about their research in gene therapy vaccines, the benefit of VR in education, and the future of chemistry labs and technology. Schools may be able to borrow VR headsets from °×С½ãÂÛ̳.
Contact: Dr Stephen Hilton
Email: s.hilton@ucl.ac.ukÌý
People and Nature Lab
This is an interdisciplinary applied teaching and research partnership whose work supports a more sustainable relationship between people and nature. The people working there are very happy to hear from schools who are interested in communicating with their students about topics such as climate change and how species are adapting to change, as well as how these changes in nature impact people. More info on the website.
There isn’t a set offer for schools, please contact Dan Maynard Daniel.maynard@ucl.ac.uk
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Extracurricular
Saturday Club
°×С½ãÂÛ̳ East is working with the National Saturday Club to offer a regular session at our East London campus for local teenagers. The year-long Club will run on Saturdays during term-time with a focus on the theme of 'Writing and Talking'
After school clubs
Find out about weekly after school sessions full of hands-on opportunities to use °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Library’s Special Collections’ materials as inspiration for printmaking, illustrating and exploring London’s history.
East Summer Schools
East Summer School 2023Ìýincluded a range of activities from °×С½ãÂÛ̳ includingÌýskateboarding, filmmaking, insights into sport medicine, exploring special collections and more. We can't wait for nextÌýsummer!