Looking Beyond the Classroom – 3 Pathways to Personal Growth Outside of School

There are countless opportunities for students to gain meaningful experiences beyond the standard curriculum. Here are three inspiring examples:

Competitions:
Our student Elina Q took part in the Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition during her stay at Bromsgrove School and was awarded second place in the Creative category. Her essay, “When We Turned Into Numbers,” explored the importance of individuality in a conformist world. Read more here

The HCGEC is an international, fully virtual writing competition for ambitious high school students. Early registration for the 2026 edition is already open!

Extracurricular Research Projects:
Pioneer Academics gives students the opportunity to pursue independent research projects before even starting university—on a level typically reserved for undergraduates. Working in small, international cohorts, students collaborate with university professors to produce scholarly research papers.

The program specifically welcomes students who may not yet have a fixed academic path but bring a range of interests and an openness to explore them further. What’s needed is curiosity and a willingness to engage with unfamiliar topics—not a pre-defined specialization. Learn more in the podcast with The University Guys

Future-Ready Skills:
Startup Sherpas empowers young people to gain hands-on work experience through practical innovation projects. In six-week “SuperSquads,” students tackle real-world challenges for companies, develop ideas, and pitch their solutions – and they even get paid for their work!

Participants acquire essential 21st-century skills such as communication, teamwork, and creativity. The best part: the program is open to all students, regardless of academic performance. More information