Secondary schools

We deliver meaningful, informative and timely activities to young people in year groups 9-11.

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We deliver meaningful, informative and timely activities to young people in year groups 9-11.

Secondary schools

At the University of East London (UEL), our Pre-16 Secondary Schools Programme offers future-focused, practice-based learning opportunities designed to help young people thrive in an evolving world shaped by Industry 5.0. All our workshops are free, with priority given to schools signed up to partnership agreements, or with a large proportion of pupils from widening participation backgrounds.

Students at USS_UEL-8522crop
Thank you for facilitating the visit yesterday, all students were really positive about their visit when they returned to school, many saying it is the best visit/trip that they have had!

Careers Lead

Stratford School Academy

Workshops, programmes and activities for Secondary Schools (Years 9 - 11)

We offer a wide range of engaging, curriculum-aligned activities designed to raise aspirations, build key skills, and support young people as they plan their next steps. Our programme includes assemblies, in-school workshops, on-campus experiences and multi-school events, each tailored to help students explore higher education, develop confidence, and make informed choices about their futures. Access to our full programme is exclusively available to partner schools, ensuring a tailored and impactful experience for every learner.

Awareness-raising activities

Introduce your students to university life and future opportunities through short, interactive sessions delivered in school.

Career fairs and school events

Location: School
Gatsby benchmark: 7

We support career fairs, parents’ evenings, drop-down days and other school events with talks and interactive activities tailored to your needs.

Mythbusting higher educations assemblies

Location: School
Gatsby benchmark: 7

A lively, quiz-style introduction to university, covering key terminology, learning styles and common misconceptions.

Parent information sessions

Location: School
Gatsby benchmark: 7

Sessions to help parents understand the university experience and support their child’s decision-making.

Skills and knowledge workshops

Build students’ confidence and prepare them for Post-16 pathways with practical, skills-focused sessions.

Pathway planning sessions

Location: School
Gatsby benchmarks: 2, 7

Topics include:

  • Why Go to University?

  • University vs Apprenticeships

  • Choosing Courses

  • Student Life

  • Student Finance

Subject taster workshops

Location: School
Gatsby benchmarks: 4, 7

Interactive tasters delivered by trained Curriculum Ambassadors, covering subjects such as psychology, medical physiology, sport, theatre and more.

Transferable skills sessions

Location: School
Gatsby benchmarks: 3, 7

Workshops on presenting with impact, time management and linking motivation to future goals.

AI careers and jobs of the future

Location: School
Gatsby benchmarks: 2, 7

An interactive introduction to artificial intelligence, Industry 5.0 and the future job market.

Student ambassador Q&A

Location: School
Gatsby benchmarks: 3, 7

Real conversations with current UEL students about university life, learning and support.

On-campus experiences

Give your students a first-hand experience of university through immersive days at our Docklands or Stratford campuses.

Your choices taster days (multi-school)

Location: UEL campus
Gatsby benchmarks: 4, 7

Subject-taster workshops designed to support informed GCSE option choices.

Campus taster days

Location: UEL campus
Gatsby benchmarks: 4, 7

A flexible day including student-life talks, subject tasters and a guided campus tour.

Uni unlocked

Location: UEL campus
Gatsby benchmarks: 4, 7

An interactive campus experience exploring modern library skills, AI in learning, and university life, designed to build students’ confidence as independent learners.

Discover law

Location: UEL campus
Gatsby benchmarks: 4, 7

A practical law experience including workshops on the UK legal system, a mock courtroom and a student-led trial activity.

Sports taster day

Location: UEL campus
Gatsby benchmarks: 4, 7

Designed for GCSE PE students, featuring hands-on sessions with sports equipment, facilities tours and student Q&A.

FutureMed

Location: UEL campus
Gatsby benchmarks: 4, 7

A hands-on medicine taster day combining real-world clinical activities with a guided campus experience, designed to inspire Year 10 students to explore careers in healthcare.

Careers insight day (multi-school event)

Location: UEL campus
Gatsby benchmarks: 2, 5, 7

Delivered with the East London Business Alliance, this event connects school subjects with future career pathways, including an interactive session on AI and emerging industries.

Stratford Campus
Thank you once again for hosting us yesterday. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the visit, and it provided them with a valuable insight into university life and the diverse opportunities available within health and medical sciences. It was a truly enriching experience that has already sparked conversations among students about their future aspirations.

Inclusion Officer and Subject Lead for Health and Social Care

Oaks Park School

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions from teachers and advisors in Schools.

How much do your activities cost?

All our outreach activities for schools and colleges are completely free of charge. This includes workshops, campus visits, subject tasters, assemblies in schools and multi-school events.

Priority is given to:

We will always do our best to accommodate all requests wherever possible.

Which schools do you work with?

We work with all state schools, both within London and in neighbouring areas.

Our priority groups include:

  • Schools with lower progression to higher education
  • Schools experiencing higher levels of disadvantage and educational need, including those with above-average levels of Free School Meal eligibility, higher proportions of pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL), and below-average Progress 8 outcomes.
  • Schools serving underrepresented groups within higher education
  • Existing and potential UEL school partners including those with a Sixth form

If your school does not meet these criteria but wishes to collaborate, please still contact us. We aim to be as inclusive as possible.

Do you work with SEND schools or specialist settings?

Yes. We offer inclusive outreach and are happy to adapt activities for SEND groups, alternative provision and specialist settings.

We can tailor:

  • Session length
  • Content level
  • Group size
  • Accessibility needs

Just let us know what support is required.

Is there parking for school buses or coaches?

UEL does not have dedicated parking for coaches or minibuses on campus. However, we can advise on nearby drop-off and pick-up points, and provide support with logistical planning.

What safeguarding measures do you have in place?

Safeguarding is central to all our outreach work.

  • All UEL outreach staff and student ambassadors working closely with young people hold enhanced DBS checks.
  • All UEL outreach staff are NSPCC trained
  • Student ambassadors are clearly identifiable with Teal ambassador T-shorts, UEL lanyards and ID.
  • A teacher or responsible adult from the visiting school must supervise pupils at all times unless agreed otherwise in writing.

Our safeguarding policy is available on request.

Who is eligible for UEL Schools and Colleges activities?

Students may be considered widening-participation learners if they meet one or more of the following:

  • Eligible for free school meals
  • Parents/carers did not attend university
  • Live in areas with historically low HE progression
  • Are a young carer
  • Have English as Additional Language
  • Have a disability or long-term health condition
  • Are care-experienced
  • Come from groups underrepresented in higher education

Eligibility varies across programmes, but we work hard to be flexible and inclusive.

How do UEL activities link to the Gatsby Benchmarks?

All our outreach activity is mapped to the Gatsby Benchmarks, including:

  • Benchmark 1: A stable careers programme
  • Benchmark 2: Labour market information
  • Benchmark 3: Addressing individual needs
  • Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers
  • Benchmark 5: Encounters with employers and employees
  • Benchmark 6: Experiences of workplaces (where applicable)
  • Benchmark 7: Encounters with HE
  • Benchmark 8: Personal guidance (where appropriate)

We can help schools evidence their careers provision through session feedback, registers and tailored reports.

How do you use and protect student data?

We collect only the information needed to run and evaluate our outreach programmes.

All data is stored securely, used responsibly and handled under UK GDPR regulations. We share student data with the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT). This partnership complies with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 to evaluate how outreach programs impact student success.

Full details are included in our Outreach Data Protection Notice.

Can you customise activities for our students?

Absolutely. Many schools have specific priorities, such as improving motivation, preparing for GCSEs, boosting career engagement, or supporting SEND learners.

We can:

  • Tailor workshops
  • Adapt sessions for specific cohorts
  • Create multi-week programmes
  • Co-design events with teachers

How to get involved

If you’d like to explore becoming a partner school or find out what we can offer your Year 9 –11 students, please get in touch. Email us at outreachandaccess@uel.ac.uk and we'll be happy to discuss your needs and work out a bespoke plan for your school or group.