Runshaw’s Horizons Programme offers a wide range of opportunities to complement a students’ main qualification, and help them stand out from the crowd.
We want all our students to reach their full potential. This means developing their passion for particular subjects, achieving A* grades at A Level, then gaining a place at a prestigious university, on a graduate apprenticeship or in a competitive career. Find out how we can help you get ahead by browsing our academies and societies for the 2025/26 year below.
Art Academy
Our Art Academy provides outstanding support for our many gifted and talented students to achieve the highest grades in all A Level Visual Arts subjects. Students are taught a breadth of skills in a wide range of media techniques and processes, to expand on the knowledge and experience gained on the A Level Art courses. Work produced in the Academy sessions is linked to current project work and themes, with students adding their academy work into their coursework journals to demonstrate an extensive range of work ready for assessment.
Biology Academy
Our highly popular Biology Academy gives you the opportunity to connect your knowledge and passion for Biology with real-world applications and cutting- edge research. Through the program, you will develop a diverse set of skills, including communication, research, presentation, analytical thinking, and problem-solving. The Academy is structured around two key modules: STEM Careers & Experiments and Competitions & Day Trips. Sessions include Gene technology, Forensics, Planetary Biology and Pathology. You will also participate in the Runshaw Industry Project and compete in prestigious national competitions, including the Biology Olympiad and the Royal Society of Biology Quiz.
Chemistry Academy
The Chemistry Academy offers a variety of opportunities for students to enhance their understanding and passion for chemistry. These include preparing for the Young Analyst Competition, where students can demonstrate their practical and analytical skills in a competitive setting. The Cambridge Chemistry Challenge pushes students beyond the A-level curriculum, improving their problem-solving and critical thinking. Through the prestigious Chemistry Olympiad, students can tackle advanced problems and test their skills on a national and international stage
Classics Academy
Digging up the Past is aimed at anyone who has an interest in the past! Attendance and volunteering is open to all students – sessions may be of particular interest to students of A-Level History & Classical Civilisation. The academy sessions run every Friday lunch. Either a teacher or student leads a short session (c. 35 minutes) on an area of the past they find interesting. All areas of history are open for exploration! Previous sessions have covered exciting topics such as: how the neanderthals died out, was Alexander really that great, and the funniest moments in history.
English Academy
The Academy supports English students’ enthusiasms and the next steps on their English journey in a variety of other ways. The department’s teaching team and visiting speakers offer new insights into selected texts, topics and authors, plus advice and guidance on university courses and English-related careers. We also visit a number of university English departments, offering a taste of degree level English and the opportunities available. There is also the chance to be English Ambassadors at our open events and partner high school activities. The School of English also runs an online magazine as part of our English Academy, The Insider, providing students with a forum to showcase their talents, be they literary, journalistic or editorial.
ESports Academy
ESports students will be able to trial for the Runshaw Ravens and help run the college British Esports student Championships while studying with us. Opportunities such as content creator, shout caster, social media manager, coach, stream production and more are available. These experiences will prepare you for work in industry and also give you an edge in your assignment work and CV to help you succeed.
Law Academy
Our vibrant Law Academy provides a unique opportunity to practice advanced legal skills such as mooting, mock trialling and mentoring. Experience of these advanced skills definitely enhances a student’s university application, CV and employability, leading to Runshaw’s fantastic record of students studying Law at all prestigious universities including Oxbridge. Our Academy students tell us that they thoroughly enjoy working with a wider group of like-minded people and often form enduring friendships. We work closely with practicing barristers to plan and prepare cases and ultimately compete in the national finals against the best teams from across the UK.
Maths Academy
Runshaw’s highly popular Maths Academy ensures that our students are provided with a range of extra opportunities. Students can become involved in many areas of academic challenge and enrichment beyond the regular curriculum and classroom environment. Each year our maths students are given the opportunity to take part in the biggest annual national maths competition: ‘The UK Senior Maths Challenge’ (UKSMC). We also offer trips where students get the chance to explore campus-based Universities and take part in their Maths workshops to help give a taste of University life.
Medical Society
Our college Medical Society is for any student wishing to pursue a career in Medicine, Vet Science or Dentistry. Competition for University places on these courses in high but thanks to our sector leading programme, devised in collaboration with the NHS and Universities, it is a superb way to begin your Medical, Dental and Veterinary career. The course consists of two lessons a week that provides full insight into a career within these fields, including the use of AI, communication skills, problem based learning and basic medical techniques, alongside additional qualifications including a first aid qualification, an introduction to British Sign Language and opportunity to take part in a research project.
Music Academy
Our Music Academy consists of weekly activities including concert band, jazz ensembles, brass ensemble, choir, folk group, big band, piano club, acoustic guitar ensemble and music theory classes, looking at both traditional and popular music theory.
In addition to weekly activities the Academy runs trips through the year, enabling students to experience rehearsal of various ensembles and orchestral performances of the highest quality.
Performing Arts Academy
For those who are interested in dance, we offer Extension12 – the Runshaw Dance Academy elite group. Extension12 has an international reputation for excellence, having competed in the Barcelona World Dance Grand Prix winning the Jazz, Modern and Contemporary prizes in recent years. We run the Barcelona Trip alternate years so that all students in the Dance Academy have the opportunity to go on this trip at least once whilst studying at Runshaw. Within Extension12, the Dance Academy offers a wide range of students the opportunity to develop technique in a variety of styles through workshops, performances and specialist classes both with professionals from the industry and past students.
Physics Academy
In Physics academy, you will explore a wide variety of opportunities to deepen your understanding of physics, covering topics both within and beyond the A-level curriculum. Sessions include Challenge yourself with advanced problem-solving in the Year 13 Physics Challenge and the British Physics Olympiad. You’ll also gain hands-on experience in astrophysics with an unforgettable visit to the Alston Observatory.
Police Horizons Society
Our exciting Police Society runs weekly for students across all subjects. The Society is open to anyone who is interested in policing or wishing to join the police. During your time in the Society you will investigate case studies to give you some background knowledge into the history of policing. You will learn about the recruitment process and what will be expected of you, with the opportunity to practice the fitness test that you are required to pass upon entry into the police.
Social Science Academy
Including Psychology, Sociology and Politics. We provide short courses focusing on topics not covered by the syllabus; including educational, abnormal and sport psychology. Our students benefit from guest lectures by professionals who use psychology in their fields of work, such as medical detection dog training and clinical psychology specialists. Students examine a range of contemporary issues reflecting the fast-changing nature of modern society. Academy sessions vary between lectures, debates, guest speakers, university visits, workshops and research activities, based on students’ interests and future career aspirations.
Sports Academy
Our celebrated Academy is accessible to students across all A Level subjects as a daily, timetabled element of their study programme. Currently we have Academy teams in football (male and female), rugby union and netball. Our Academy also caters for individual students’ specialities in terms of physical conditioning: whatever their speciality is, we offer first class training in our purpose built gym.
Studio 22
Studio22 is the college’s Graphic Design Academy, where students form a Graphic Design agency, creating work such as logos, leaflets and brochures, album covers, posters, advertising, awareness campaigns, social media posts, illustration and infographics, for external clients. These ‘Live’ briefs provide students with real experience of the world of work, including, how to meet clients, identify the job requirements, take feedback on initial designs, respond to clients’ instructions and work to tight timeframes to deliver a professional design which will be used by the client.
Think Tank
Think Tank is an ever-popular, weekly debating club within our Social Science Academy which is open to students across all subjects allowing them to enhance their oratory and thinking skills through argument, analysis and evaluation. Each week, students focus on a new topic, suggested by the Institute of Ideas, in either structured and timed debates or via round table open discussions. Our Think Tank students are encouraged to stretch and challenge one another in a supportive environment whilst building on their curriculum knowledge and extending their communication skills.