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The University of Southampton
Schools and colleges

Learn with US Outreach Pre-16

The Pre 16 team at the University of Southampton deliver programmes, talks and workshops to primary schools in Southampton, and selected secondary schools within Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex. A wider offer is available through virtual activity and our summer residentials.

All of our activity is designed to support learners from background which are underrepresented in Higher Education in one or more of the following areas:

By taking part in these activities, learners will meet and interact with University of Southampton staff and student ambassadors. Each activity will contribute to Gatsby Benchmark 7 – Encounters with Further & Higher Education – and many will help you and your school meet a number of other benchmarks.

Primary Schools

This section is being updated. For any enquiries, please email [email protected] indicating it is regarding our Primary Schools programme.

Learn with US Secondary Schools Programme

Our Learn with US Programme is a sustained and progressive intervention where we work with small groups of learners from partner schools each year from Years 7 to 11.
 
The programme and content is in it's pilot year after redevelopment. The following is an indication of what we expect the final programme to look like.

Year 7 – Introduction to Higher Education

An in school workshop where up to 30 learners will discover the range of academic, extra-curricular and social opportunities available in Higher Education.

Year 8 – Course Explorer

A follow up workshop for 30 learners where they will discover the wide range of subjects available to study at university, and how they link to various career paths.

Year 9 – Skills for Future Pathways

Up to 10 learners from each school will come to Highfield campus to discover more about skills they already have. We'll help them develop these skills, for success in Higher Education and other pathways, in an interactive day of activities and creativity. This will be followed up by a workshop in school, where the learners will take their ideas and develop them into a project, which will be submitted for feedback.

Year 10 – Subject Tasters

This on campus event for up to 10 learners from each school will allow them to experience different subject areas and consider how research and critical thinking are integral skills within higher education.

Year 11 – Webinars

New for 2025, we are developing and launching a range of webinars aimed at supporting Year 11 students in their studies and future planning.
 
Schools have been selected based on Widening Participation eligibility and current availability, and the programme is full.
If you are interested in your school being involved should places become available, please email [email protected] indicating your interest in the Learn with US Secondary Schools Programme.

Residentials & Summer Schools

We host the Learn with US Residential in July for Year 10 learners. This free three-day, two-night event gives participants the opportunity to learn more about different subjects, student life and a university campus and halls of residence. Visit the Learn with US Residential page for more details.

In addition, our partners at Lifelab run their own Medicine Summer School for Year 9, 10 & 11 learners interested in Medicine and becoming a doctor. There is a cost associated with this programme, but bursary spaces are available for those meeting widening participation criteria. Head to the Lifelab Summer School page to find out more.

Off Campus

The following workshops are available throughout the academic year subject to availability. Workshops can last between 40 and 60 minutes and are best placed in classroom settings to a maximum of 32 learners at a time.

  • introduction to HE (Key Stage 3)
  • why HE? (Key Stage 4)
  • choosing Courses (Key Stage 4)
  • next Steps – GCSE Options (Key Stage 3)
  • next Steps – Post 16 (Key Stage 4)
  • revision Skills (Key Stage 4)
  • skills for Uni (Key Stage 3 & 4)
  • smart Spenders Budgeting (Key Stage 3 & 4 – requires 60 minutes)

To request any of the workshops above, please email [email protected] , indicating you wish to request an off-campus workshop.

We can deliver adaptations of some of our workshops as talks or assemblies. We can also present to parents/carers, teachers and advisors, or attend higher education and careers fairs. To discuss any of these please email [email protected] .

Subject-specific talks and workshops are available and can be organised and booked for your students through our Ask the Expert scheme.

Contact Us

If you wish to learn more about any of our pre-16 activity and/or are interested in any of the activities, please contact the Pre 16 team through [email protected] .

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