Those organizations which responded to and fulfilled the YouthCafe and NAGC’s ‘Good Course Guide’ professional criteria (as laid out in Cyberbryte One) are marked with an asterisk.
a) Courses for the Exceptionally Able (covering a wide range of subject areas)
b) Specific Talent (Music, Art, Sporting,Outdoor Pursuits, Science and Technology Courses.
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Courses for the Exceptionally Able (covering a wide range of subject areas)
The National Association for Gifted Children*
Runs Explorers’ Clubs through a national branch network providing stimulating and enriching activites in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
GIFT*
Runs residential weekend courses and week-long summer and Easter schools at a variety of centres around the country for age-specific groups within the 9-18 age-range; and non-residential Saturday masterclasses for age-specific groups within the 4-18 age-range. Projects are day-length, either non-National Curriculum-based or extensions of it, either cross-curricular or subject-specific, and delivered by trained experts in the field. Also runs teacher INSET courses.
University of Essex*
Offers a programme of residential weekend courses (some certificated) on campus in Colchester, Essex, and a programme of one-off non-residential day-courses (age 6th Form+) and 10- or 20-week courses around Essex (Age rising 18+) delivered by lecturers from its Department of Continuing Education.
University of Nottingham*
Offers a summer programme of residential courses on campus and off (age 18 and over).
University of Cambridge*
Offers a programme of residential two-day or week courses in Cambridgeshire (age 18 and over).
University of Oxford*
Offers a range of courses that can be studied from anywhere in the world. All that is required is a computer and a connection to the internet. More and more courses will be made available as time progresses (ages 18 and over).
Open University*
No formal qualifications are needed to take the courses offered but you are urged to ensure that you are adequately prepared for study at undergraduate level. Applicants must be 18 on 1st January of the year in which the course commences.
University of East Anglia
The Centre for Continuing Education runs day-schools, evening courses and field trips (some certificated) at the university on a variety of subjects. It also runs a superb Science Starter Programme. Ages - sixth form plus but open to enquiries.
Mid-Essex Adult Community College
Runs 70 one-day, three-day, and evening courses as part of a ‘summer school’ of courses in Hutton, Essex. The courses vary wildly in subject matter - from ‘Art & Society in 14th-century Tuscany and Padua’ to ‘Australian Cross-stitch’.
Runs residential and non-residential summer schools in Dublin for 12-16 year olds (with an appropriate SAT score). One discipline is selected and a course in it is followed for the duration.
Runs summer schools for 9-16 year olds in a Dumfriesshire boarding school. General courses in individual disciplines are followed each day.
The Support Society for Children of High Intelligence runs a summer school in a Gloucestershire boarding school (running general courses in individual disciplines) and occasional masterclasses (in a few specific subject areas) in West London and Gloucestershire. Local teachers are recruited.
Somerset LEA runs a programme weekend enrichment courses for a variety of ages in an LEA residential study centre in Kilve, Somerset to "complement the National Curriculum" (courses tend to be non-academic, general as opposed to specific, and sometimes rather skills-based). One subject is studied for the entire weekend.
Runs Saturday classes for mixed-ability children aged 11-14 from certain schools only in the Birmingham area. Courses tend to be non-academic, delivered by local teachers, and organized in partnership with local schools.
Runs a few day-schools ( infant and junior ) and three-day schools ( top primary ) some of which are appropriate for the exceptionally able, and some of which are run by appropriately qualified staff.
Provide summer holiday non-residential and residential music courses for children of all ages and abilities and are held at a variety of venues throughout England. Course include instrumental and singing workshops as well as ‘musical activity’ workshops designed to stimulate interest in music-making.
Provide residential outdoor pursuits ‘activity’-style holidays in Somerset and on Mull involving rafting, canoeing, orienteering, and such like with qualified instructors for 8-17 year olds.
Provide residential outdoor pursuits holidays in a variety of venues involving mountaineering, potholing, cycling for a variety of ages.
Runs a summer Residential Orchestral Course in Suffolk for all ages involving full orchestra, sectionals, and chamber music.
British Museum
Runs Sunday Club lectures and events/practical activities for children of all abilities through its Young Friends of the British Museum organization. It also has a magazine ReMUS. Its subject matter can be high-flying with much hands-on experience, led by experts.
Provides summer residential and day activity holidays in Glamorganshire for a variety of ages and abilities involving canoeing, rock-climbing, abseiling, etc.
Runs a non-residential hands-on science and technology week long summer course in Lancashire for a variety of abilities involving electronics, mechanical and automotive engineering and chemistry for 8-11 year olds.
Runs 3 and 7-day residential summer ‘piano plus’ courses in Gloucestershire for pianists and friends (solo, duet or in ensembles with other instruments/voices). Course information is available from Holiday Music in the Cotswolds,
Runs a residential summer music school in Kent for 8-18 year olds requiring a high standard of musical performance in symphony orchestra, concert band, training orchestra, and symphonic band formats.
Course information is available from The East Kent Holiday Music Trust,
British Association for the Advancement of Science
Has a Youth section (BAYS) running stimulating and activity-packed science days for children aged 6 and above.
Runs residential summer activity holidays (Young Dartington) in Devon involving rock climbing, dry-slope skiing, water sports, etc., run by skilled, qualified instructors, and Internet training (tele-web) using on-line chat, electronic mail and discussion groups.
A youth sailing organisation operating a fleet of 7 vessels, at sea from March to November.
Runs outdoor pursuit courses (ages10+) connected with sailing and the sea (dingy sailing, powerboating, yachting, canoeing, kayaking, RYA certificates, D of E courses). LEA owned & RYA recognised with fully qualified and experienced staff used to able people.
Email: youthagency@rmplc.co.uk
For details of branch addresses contact The NAGC, Elder House, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK9 1LR Tel: 01908 673677 Fax: 01908 673679
e-mail: nagc@rmplc.co.uk
Course information from Julian Whybra, GIFT Ltd., 24 Martingale Rd., Billericay, Essex CM11 1SG or GIFT Ltd., The International Study Centre, Dartford Grammar School, West Hill, Dartford, Kent DA1 2HW
Tel.& Fax: 01277 654228
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Programmes are available from Dr.E Morfoot, Centre for Continuing Education, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ
Tel: 01206 872519
Leaflets available from University of Nottingham, Educational Breaks Programme, University Park, Nottingham, Notts NG7 2RD Tel: 01159 516526
Leaflets are available from University of Cambridge Summer Programme, Madingley Hall, Madingley, Cambridgeshire CB3 8AQ Tel: 01954 210636 Fax: 01954 210677
A free prospectus is available from University of Oxford, Dept. for Continuing Education, Rewley Ho., 1 Wellington Sq., Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 2JA
Tel: 01865 270360
Information from The Open University, Course Reservations and Sales Centre,
PO Box 724, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK7 6ZS Tel: 01908 653231
Information from:
The University of East Anglia, Centre for Continuing Education, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ
Tel: 01603 593266 Fax: 01603 250035
e-mail: c.fuller@uea.ac.uk
Information from: Mid-Essex Adult Community College, Bishops’ Hill, Hutton, Essex CM13 1BD Tel: 01277 218593 Fax: 01277 230471
The Irish Centre for Talented Youth
Course information is available from The Irish Centre for Talented Youth, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Co.Dublin, Ireland Tel: 00353 1 7045634
Fax: 00353 1 7045693.
Cademuir International School
Course information is available from Cademuir International school, Crawfordton House, Moniaive, Dumfriesshire, Scotland DG3 4HG
Tel: 01848 200212 Fax: 01848 200336
Support Society for Children of High Intelligence
Course information is available from CHI, PO Box 4222, London SE22 8XG
Kilve Court Residential Education Centre
Course information is available from Kilve Court Residential Education Centre, Kilve, Somerset TGA5 1EA Tel: 01278 741270 Fax: 01278 741551
University of the First Age
Course information is available from University of the First Age, Education Dept., Margaret St., Birmingham B3 3BU Tel: 0121 235 2606 Fax: 0121 235 1308
Wirral Able Children's Centre
Contact: K Jenner, WACC, Calday Grange Grammar School, Grammar School Lane, West Kirby, Cheshire. L48 8GG
Telephone 0151 6253726.
e-mail WACC@btinternet.com
Specific Talent (Music, Art, Sporting, Outdoor Pursuits, Science & Technology) Courses
Musicale Holidays
Course information is available from Musicale Holidays, The Bourne, 20 Salisbury Ave., Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2QG Tel: 01582 460978 Fax: 01582 767343
Mill on the Brue Activity Holidays
Course information is available from Mill on the Brue, Trendle Farm, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0BA Tel: 01749 812307 Fax: 01749 812706 e-mail: 106463.656@compuserve.com
Forest School Camps
Course information is available from Forest Schools Camps, Filton House, 42 Payne Ave., Aldrington, Sussex BN3 5HD
The Cambridge School of Music
Course information is available from The Course Director, The Cambridge School of Music, 1 Sleford Clo., Balsham, Cambridgeshire CB1 6DP Tel: 01223 893972 Fax: 01223 893099
Information and enquiries: Sarah Carthew, Young Friends of the British Museum, The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
Telephone: 0171 323 8602 Fax: 0171 323 8614
Atlantic College
Course information is available from The director, The Extra Mural Centre,
The United World College of the Atlantic, St. Donat’s Castle, Llantwit Major, Glamorganshire CF6 9WF Tel: 01446 792711 Fax: 01446 794163
SciTech
Course information: Philip Rose, SciTech, 28 Carlton Road, Hale, Cheshire WA15 8RJ
Tel: 0161 903 9133 Fax: 0161 903 9144
e-mail: fun@scitech.co.uk website: http://www.scitech.co.uk
Holiday Music in the Cotswolds
34 Stanton Rd., London SW20 8RJ Tel: 0181 947 5538
The East Kent Holiday Music Trust
7 Granville Rd., Walmer, Kent CT14 7LU Tel: 01304 375057
Information from: Dawn Stewart, British Association Youth Section, 23 Savile Row, London W1X 2NB
Telephone: 0171 973 3060/1 Fax: 0171 973 3051
The Open School Holidays
Course information is available from Young Dartington holidays, The open School, Park Rd., Dartington, devon TQ9 6EQ Tel: 01803 868533 Fax: 01803 866676 e-mail: openschool@dial.pipex.com
The Ocean Youth Club
Information from Katy Graham, The Bus Station, South Street, Gosport, Hants. PO12 1EP
Telephone 01705 528421/501211
Fax. 01705 522069
email katy@oyc.org.uk.
Bradwell Outdoor Education Centre
Information from Bradwell Outdoor Education Centre, Bradwell Waterside, Essex CM0 7QY
Tel: 01621 776256
Fax: 01621 776378