Schools, colleges and community

Primary

We deliver a range of events, activities, and information sessions for Years 3 - 6, both on campus and in schools. Aimed at raising aspirations, attainment and knowledge of university, all our sessions are led by University staff and/or student ambassadors. All sessions can be delivered in school, on campus and for some, virtually.

Due to resourcing, we prioritise primary schools using several metrics which include locality, Free School Meals (FSM) and Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). This determines the level of outreach we can provide for schools.

If you’d like to get in touch to discuss support, book an activity, or have another query, please email schools@le.ac.uk.

Our primary outreach offering

Assemblies

Why university?

This is an assembly that gives students a little introduction to university and includes some true and false games. 

Recommended for Years 3 - 6.

Humanities workshops

South Asian soldiers during the second World War 

This session teachers students about the role of Indians in World War II. Covering where they fought, the role of women in the army and the partition of India after the war. The session also includes a letter writing activity for students.

Recommended for Year 6.


Deciphering Dicken’s code 

This session gives students the opportunity to explore Charles Dickens’ use of shorthand. The lesson introduces students to shorthand as a form of ‘coded’ language and encourages them to consider who might use it and why. Students will then learn about the Victorian writer, Charles Dickens, and the shorthand system that he used. Subsequently, the session asks students to take part in a variety of ‘decoding’ activities, before writing their own coded messages.

Recommended for Years 5 - 6.

STEM workshops

Living on the ISS

This session introduces young people to the idea of living in space, on board the International Space Station. Students explore the idea of gravity and design a bedroom for the ISS. This also includes videos from UK astronaut, Tim Peake.

Recommended for Years 5 - 6.


Materials

This session encourages students to consider why certain materials are used in space crafts, getting them to test how effective different materials are under specific conditions.

Recommended for Years 5 - 6.


Forces and rockets

This session introduces students to the concept of Gravity and the challenges of living with microgravity in space. Students will also have the opportunity to learn how rockets can be used to transport people and materials in to space. (This activity includes an outdoor experiment).

Recommended for Years 5 - 6.


Biology in the box

The KS2 session is a 1 hour session including an interactive activity. There are several options for the interactive activity including a bug scavenger hunt, crafting a bug, a symmetry task and building a bug hotel, we usually decide on the activities based on the year group of students.

Recommended for Years 4 - 6.

Campus visits

Due to planned building works to improve our campus, we are extremely limited with space. As such, we are unable to accommodate any primary campus visit requests during 2024/25.

However, we are still planning on running our primary taster days. More information below.

2024/25 primary events

In addition to our primary offering, we host a number of additional opportunities for young people. Some are available for group bookings whilst other events can be directly signed up to. See below to find out more and keep checking back as we release more exciting opportunities.

Primary taster days

Children working on an experiment in a workshopThe University of Leicester hosts two primary taster days a year. This is an opportunity for year 5/6 students to visit the University and attend a variety of different sessions to inspire and inform them about life at university. This free event has a limited capacity of 30 students from 3 schools. Therefore, we ask schools to express an interest for these events. We require schools to bring a ratio of 1:10 teachers for students.

Primary taster days include

  • Subject based taster sessions.
  • A chance for students to interact with current students.
  • An opportunity for students to be shown around the different parts of our campus by student ambassadors.
  • A session around student societies.
  • A group graduation photo opportunity.

“We all, staff included, had a fantastic day yesterday! The children thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Alderman Richard Hallam Primary School at Primary Taster Day 2023

When and where?

All primary taster days will run 9.30am to 2.15pm at University of Leicester main campus, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH.

  • Winter Primary Taster Day – Tuesday 17 December 2024
  • Summer Primary Taster Day – Friday 4 July 2025

How can I sign up?

We encourage all schools to sign up! However, priority will be given to schools in the following order:

  1. Schools who have signed up for previous taster days but were unsuccessful.
  2. Schools who have previously worked with us this academic year.
  3. Schools which meet certain widening participation criteria. 

Complete the expression of interest form

Schools that are successfully selected will be contacted within 8 weeks prior to the date chosen on the form and sent the necessary booking documentation, allowing time to make suitable travel arrangements.

If you have any questions about any of our events, please email schools@le.ac.uk.

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