Oundle and Shrewsbury STEM Potential

In its first years, Oundle STEM Potential was developed in partnership with Kettering Buccleuch Academy, Prince William School and Thomas Deacon Academy, but the programme is open for applications from pupils from any state school in the Kettering, Corby, Oundle and Peterborough areas. Applications for Shrewsbury STEM Potential are open for applications from pupils from any state school near Shropshire. 

Please note that Imperial’s STEM Potential Programme opens for applications in the autumn term. Interested applicants from outside of Oundle or Shrewsbury STEM Potential’s local area should sign up to the Outreach newsletter for further information on this programme.

We run five events on average for each year group. These events take place on Saturdays and during school holiday periods typically running from the morning into early afternoon. Our events will include a week-long non-residential summer school for Year 10 and Year 12 students. 

For Oundle STEM Potential (Year 10 and Year 12 entry) the programme will begin on a Saturday in late September 2024. For Shrewsbury STEM Potential (Year 10 entry and Year 12) the programme will begin on a Saturday in Autumn 2024. 

Please read the Outreach programme eligibility before you apply. We use the criteria below to assess who is eligible to participate. The more criteria you meet, the more likely your application will be successful.

We will prioritise your application if:

• You are currently, or have been in care
• You live independently (estranged from your family), meaning you no longer have the support of your family due to a breakdown in the relationship which has led to ceased contact

We will also assess whether:

• You are a young carer and have caring responsibilities for a close relative with a disability, long-term illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem that is a significant demand on your time
• Your family income is below £50,000 each year
• You are eligible for free school meals and/or pupil premium
• Your parents/guardians did not attend university
• You live in an area with low overall progression rates to higher education (POLAR4 Quintile 1 or 2 areas) or high levels of deprivation (IMD Quintile 1 areas)
• Your school has a high percentage of students receiving free school meals
• Your school has below average attainment

In addition to meeting the Outreach eligibility criteria, you must also meet the following programme specific criteria:

• Be in Year 9 or Year 11 at the time of application
• Be studying Maths (compulsory) and at least one science subject (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) if you are applying to start in Year 12
• Live or attend a state school in the Kettering, Corby, Oundle and Peterborough areas (Oundle STEM Potential), or near Shrewsbury (Shrewsbury STEM Potential)
• For Oundle STEM Potential, be able and willing to travel to Oundle School for the scheduled programme dates
• For Shrewsbury STEM Potential, be able and willing to travel to Shrewsbury School for the scheduled programme dates

Applications for both Oundle STEM Potential and Shrewsbury STEM Potential are now closed. 

Applications are made through Aspire (Imperial College London’s programme application system). You must first create an account before completing an application.

Please note: We recommend you use a personal email address, as opposed to a school email address, when creating an Aspire account. Security settings used in some school email servers will prevent you from receiving emails from Aspire.

As part of your application, you will be asked to provide details for a parent/guardian and a teacher. Both your parent/guardian and your teacher will be contacted to provide a supporting reference and verify some of the information you provide. Please note that parent/guardian and teacher references cannot be submitted until you have submitted your application.

• For Shrewsbury STEM Potential Year 12, these references must be received by Monday 11 November at 23:59. You will be informed of the outcome of your application by Monday 18 November 2024. 

We will ask for the subjects you are currently studying. If you do not have predicted grades for your current subjects you can type NPG or N/A in the grade field.