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 UCL East Schools Engagement team manage and run, and links to UCL departments who offer activities to east London schools. Activities are free for schools in the four boroughs closest to UCL East: Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest unless otherwise stated.

Printmaking

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 UCL students who will talk to them about studying Art, before practicing the printing technique themselves.

Day 1 - Visit UCL 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

Details

• Duration: 2 days
• Key Stage 4-5
• 18 students maximum

Register your interest for Printmaking

UCL Special Collections

Overview

UCL 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 Project and have a dedicated schools and outreach programme run by the Head of Outreach Vicky Price

Details

Usually one-off sessions in person or a series of shorter sessions delivered online.

Key stages 2-5 and A2 English language

• Find out more

English

The Department of English Language and Literature at UCL is one of the most enduring and respected in Britain, with a varied syllabus that combines traditional literary skills and modern thought. 

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 UCL for your students, be it in your school or on the UCL 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. www.englicious.org 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. Englicious 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 on YouTube or search Englicious on social media.

Gaia: ‘Poetry and the Planet’ Schools Programme

Overview

'Poetry and the Planet' was developed as part of UCL 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’  is open to secondary schools from Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Hackney

Details

Pupils participate in poetry workshops with acclaimed poet Anneliese Amoah and hear from innovative UCL 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 UCL East. Scan the QR code below to see ‘Seeds for Change: Poetry and the Planet Anthology Volume One’.

If your school would like to participate in ‘Poetry and the Planet’ programme please express your interest to the UCL East Schools Engagement team east.schools@ucl.ac.uk

Languages at UCL

Find out about opportunities for schools in the UCL School of European Languages, Culture and Society at their outreach website.

The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment 

The Bartlett Outreach Team works with schools to encourage prospective learners to study at The Bartlett, UCL’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 UCL East. The outreach team’s goal is to increase the proportion of students from underrepresented groups in the faculty. See the Bartlett schools page for what they offer and contact bartlett.outreach@ucl.ac.uk

The Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources (BSEER) also works with schools, with a particular focus on engaging students from underrepresented backgrounds and ensuring equitable access to higher education. Their free activities include summer schools and masterclasses, a wide range of school visits and activities with various topics of focus, and a range of resources for both Primary and Secondary. Their website provides further details about what is on offer for schools and how to get in touch.

Bio-robotics and Animal Movement 

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.

Details

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

Register your interest for Bio-robotics and Animal Movement

Intelligent Robotics at UCL East

Are you curious about the robots of tomorrow? Join us for a dynamic, interactive 2-hour experience at the Intelligent Robotics Research Group Lab, located at UCL East! This is a unique opportunity for students aged 10 and above to dive into the exciting world of robotics research. We can accommodate up to 30 students a session which lasts for 2 hours including a lab tour and activities programme with Micro:bits and Cute Bots.

Immerse yourselves in cutting-edge advancements across aerial, legged, wheeled, humanoid, and robotic arm technologies. Get ready to see science fiction come to life—and even try your hand at programming!

Details

• Welcome and introduction to robotics research in the lab’s common area
• Live demonstrations with Unitree GO2s robots (four-legged robots)
• Debriefing on Unitree G1 humanoid features
• Exhibition of robotic arms: Franka Emika Panda, Sawyer, Elephant Robotics MyCobot, and Unitree Z1
• Walk through the aerial robotics zone (drone test space)
• Hands-on programming session: learn to code and control Micro:bits and Cute Bots
• Q&A and wrap-up session

To get more information and book your visit, teachers or school coordinators can email d.tozadore@ucl.ac.uk and cs.outreach@ucl.ac.uk at least 1 month in advance.

For more information on Computer Science outreach, please visit
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/engineering/computer-science/collaborate/schools-outreach

Chemistry 

Overview

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.

Details 

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.uk 
 

Earth Sciences / Geology

GeoBus

GeoBus is a free outreach programme run out of the Earth Sciences department at UCL. They aim to bring engaging, informative sessions to school students around the UK with workshops that complement the curriculum and give insight into the breadth of Earth Sciences as a subject.

They want to inspire the next generation of Earth scientists by instilling in them a spark of curiosity and wonder for the world around them. Please visit the Geobus website for more information and to book a free visit to your school https://www.geobus-london.org.uk

GeoBox

Overview

A free curriculum-based loan box of geology-themed resources produced by the Schools Engagement team in collaboration with the UCL Earth Sciences department that brings samples of rocks, minerals and fossils to school students in east London.

Details

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. The Geobox is aimed at KS2 pupils and is available for schools in east London to borrow for up to half a term.

To book the GeoBox please email east.schools@ucl.ac.uk

Teachers are also welcome to book a free GeoBox UCL 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. 

GeoBox PowerPoint (request via email)

GeoBox Teacher Pack

UCL Engineering

Overview

Led by the UCL 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.

Details

Weekly one-to-one tutoring in primary and secondary schools.

• Discover more

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. 

Contact Outreach Coordinator: Mark Fuller
Email: mark.fuller@ucl.ac.uk 
 

UCL 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 UCL.

Contact: Dr Stephen Hilton
Email: s.hilton@ucl.ac.uk 

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.

For enquiries, please contact Dan Maynard Daniel.maynard@ucl.ac.uk