Science Explorers Summer Courses at Harrow
Discover how the world works, investigate fascinating scientific questions and develop the confidence to think like a scientist with Atlas Summer Courses. Our Science Explorers summer courses at Harrow, designed for students aged 9–10 and 11–12, introduce young learners to scientific thinking through engaging, age-appropriate lessons that encourage curiosity, investigation and problem-solving.
Through small-group teaching, interactive activities and scientific challenges, students will explore ideas from across the sciences, learn how evidence can help us answer questions and become more confident developing and communicating explanations of their own while enjoying the wider experience of spending their summer at Harrow with Atlas Summer Courses.
What's Included?
Your residential Science Explorers summer course at Harrow combines academic teaching with the wider Atlas Summer Courses residential experience.
Students spend their week learning alongside other young people, with academic sessions complemented by activities and opportunities to socialise as part of the programme.
Explore Science at Harrow
Our Science Explorers summer courses at Harrow give students aged 9–10 and 11–12 the opportunity to spend a week investigating scientific ideas and discovering more about the world around them as part of an Atlas Summer Courses summer experience.
Science begins with curiosity. Why do things behave the way they do? What are living things made of? Why do substances change? How can we use evidence to work out whether an explanation is convincing?
Science Explorers encourages students to approach questions like these with curiosity and confidence. Rather than focusing simply on remembering facts, students will be encouraged to observe, ask questions, make predictions, examine evidence and think carefully about possible explanations.
The course can draw on ideas from different scientific disciplines, giving young learners an opportunity to make connections across subjects and discover which scientific questions interest them most.
Outside their academic sessions, students will experience the wider programme alongside other young learners, combining their Science course with the social and activity elements of their Atlas Summer Courses summer at Harrow.
What Will Students Study on a Science Explorers Summer Course at Harrow?
There is no prescribed syllabus that every student follows. Atlas Summer Courses tutors shape their lessons around their expertise while ensuring activities and subject matter are appropriate for the age and learning needs of the students in their group.
Depending on the tutor and age group, students could explore ideas drawn from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and other areas of science.
They might consider questions such as:
- How do scientists investigate questions about the world?
- What makes something a fair scientific test?
- How can we use observations and evidence to support an explanation?
- What can we discover about the materials and substances around us?
- How do living organisms survive and interact with their environments?
- What forces and forms of energy can we observe in everyday life?
- How can discoveries in science help us respond to real-world problems?
The depth and approach will reflect whether students are aged 9–10 or 11–12, as well as the tutor's expertise and the interests of the group. Any syllabus shown on our website is an example from a previous course rather than a guarantee of the exact scientific disciplines, investigations or topics students will explore.
How Students Will Learn on Science Explorers
Science Explorers is designed to make scientific learning active, enjoyable and accessible for younger students.
Ages 9–10 and 11–12
12 hours of small-group lessons
Across the week, students will take part in 12 hours of lessons designed to get them thinking, questioning and learning in a fun and interactive way.
Lessons follow a routine of review, learning and application, helping students build their understanding before applying new ideas to scientific questions and challenges. Tutors will seek to involve everyone and foster curiosity about science and the natural world.
Activities and stimuli will be age-appropriate and could include discussions, scientific problems, investigations, demonstrations, data or evidence-based activities and collaborative challenges.
Throughout the week, students will be encouraged to develop their ability to ask useful questions, consider evidence and explain their scientific thinking. There will be opportunities to work independently as well as collaboratively with other students.
Actual course content will vary depending on the expertise of the individual tutor.
Your Summer Experience at Harrow
A student's time with Atlas Summer Courses extends beyond their Science Explorers lessons.
Students will spend their programme living and learning alongside other young people, combining academic sessions with the wider social and activity elements of their summer experience.
Outside lessons, there will be opportunities to spend time with other students, participate in organised activities and enjoy the wider residential programme.
The focus remains on the Atlas Summer Courses experience at Harrow: combining engaging academic learning with opportunities to develop confidence, independence and new friendships in a supportive summer environment.
Explore the summer experience at Harow.
Who Are Our Science Explorers Summer Courses at Harrow For?
Our Science Explorers summer courses at Harrow are designed for curious students aged 9–10 and 11–12 who enjoy discovering how things work and asking questions about the world around them.
Students don't need specialist scientific knowledge before joining. The course may particularly appeal to young learners who enjoy Biology, Chemistry or Physics, like experiments and investigations, enjoy solving problems or frequently find themselves asking how and why things happen.
Students also don't need to know which area of science interests them most. Exploring ideas from across different scientific disciplines can help them discover the questions and subjects they find most exciting.
Students can develop transferable skills including scientific reasoning, observation, critical thinking, problem-solving, interpreting evidence, collaboration and communicating their ideas clearly.
Learn from Expert Tutors
Atlas Summer Courses tutors are experienced educators and subject specialists who bring their own knowledge, interests and enthusiasm into their teaching.
For our younger students, tutors aim to create an environment where everyone feels encouraged to participate, ask questions and investigate ideas. Lessons are designed to be interactive and age-appropriate, helping students build confidence while developing their curiosity about science.
Because tutors shape course content around their expertise and the students in their group, different Science Explorers courses at Harrow may explore different scientific disciplines, questions and activities.
Tutors are confirmed closer to the summer, so profiles on our website are examples of tutors who have previously taught with us rather than confirmation of who will teach a particular course.
What Can Students Gain from Science Explorers?
Science Explorers can help young students become more confident asking questions, investigating ideas and using evidence to understand the world around them.
Students can begin developing the habits associated with scientific thinking: observing carefully, making predictions, considering evidence, recognising patterns and changing their explanations when new information becomes available.
These skills can support future learning across Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Medicine and other STEM subjects. More broadly, learning to approach unfamiliar questions logically and with curiosity can be valuable across many different areas of study.
A Science Explorers summer course at Harrow gives students the opportunity to discover more about science while developing curiosity, confidence and problem-solving skills that can support their learning well beyond the summer.
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FAQs about Our Junior Summer Courses
Atlas Summer Courses offers a range of summer courses at Harrow across subjects including Science, Maths, Medicine, Law, History, Technology, Creative Writing and Enterprise. The subjects available vary according to age group, with courses designed specifically for younger learners.
Our summer courses at Harrow include Explorers courses for students aged 9–10 and 11–12 and Scholars courses for students aged 12–14. Teaching and activities are designed around each age group, providing an appropriate level of academic challenge, support and independence.
Our residential summer courses at Harrow combine academic learning with accommodation and a wider programme of organised activities and opportunities to socialise with other students. The experience is designed to give younger learners a supportive environment in which they can explore their interests, build confidence and enjoy their summer with Atlas Programmes.
No. Atlas Summer Courses is an independent summer course provider and is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by Harrow School. Our summer courses at Harrow are organised and delivered by Atlas Programmes, with the focus on our courses and the wider Atlas Programmes summer experience.
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