Academies @ Runshaw

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 below or view our brochure.

Allied Health Academy

Allied health professionals change lives for the better, every single day – it’s one of the most rewarding careers out there. Students receive at least £5,000 a year to help with their studies, and the benefits continue for NHS employees. This society will help you gain transferable skills that will support your application to study an allied health degree. Over the course of the year we will explore different professions through a mixture of guest lectures, workshops and practical sessions as well as developing research and communication techniques.

Architecture Academy

Allied Our Architecture Academy encompasses a range of extra-curricular activities for prospective university undergraduates across all of the associated areas within engineering design. The Academy comprises of a range of visual representation, photography and practical manufacture using a range of architectural techniques and processes within our specialist MA3DE design centre. The academy includes guest lecturers from a broad range of areas and the opportunity to take part in residential trips to key architectural design shows and national museums.

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.

Aspiring Teachers Society

We are very proud of our ‘Aspiring Teachers @ Runshaw’ society, especially designed for 1st Year students who are keen to pursue a career in teaching. Sessions are delivered by a dynamic team of highly experienced teachers who are all passionate about teaching. We want to inspire and enthuse the next generation of teaching professionals through an exciting 6 week programme of taught sessions and work placement guidance that will boost students’ preparation for a career in teaching.

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.

Business Academies

Through our Academies, we stretch and challenge students with an increased depth of subject knowledge to develop the advanced level analytical and evaluative skills necessary to perform at the highest academic level. Students enhance the key employability skills sought by employers including problem solving, decision making, collaborative working and interpersonal skills; skills essential for university success and working life.  To date, we have offered our students many extra-curricular opportunities such as the A* clubs, our mentoring programme, “Dragons’ Den” and “The Apprentice” simulations, Micro Tyco, ICAEW Challenge, Young Enterprise, Extended Projects, fund raising for charities, Fair Trade activities and marketing with Performing Arts. 

Computing Academy

As members of this Academy, students have the opportunity to create their own video game using an industry standard programming language as well as taking part in frequent algorithm based programming challenges throughout the year. These challenges not only put our students’ programming ability to the test, but also provide them with a valued code bank to call upon in their future studies.

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 & History 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. 

Criminology Academy

This exciting, weekly programme is ideal for students with a specific desire to embark on a future degree in Criminology and/or Criminal Justice at university. The main subject areas include: Criminal Extremism, Knife Crime, Domestic Abuse, Gang Violence and Serial Murder. As members of the Criminology Academy our students will be involved in the preparation and management of Runshaw’s Annual Public Services and Social Sciences Conference which takes place at Chorley Town Hall.

English Academy

This academy expands and builds students’ cultural capital to engage them in new and exciting experiences outside of the curriculum. The student-run magazine ‘The Insider’ provides students with a forum to showcase their talents – literary, journalistic or editorial. It is also a fantastic way to make new friends and share your views and ideas about our world from serious issues to fleeting trends.

Electronics Academy

The Electronics Society is open to students who are studying Physics A Level and want to apply their knowledge and learn new practical skills through a range of activities including building and soldering circuits, and programming robots. Students will learn about, or bring their knowledge from, computer programming too. The group work and independent research involved are also great transferable employability skills.

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.

Healthcare Academy

The Health Care Academy aims to help students develop and the necessary skills and knowledge for applying Allied Health Care professions. Sessions combine a range of hands on practical work, case study based learning, guest speakers and trips to experience health care in action. Students gain an insight in to careers such as midwifery, paramedics, nursing, radiography, speech and language therapy, biomedical sciences, social work whilst also developing first aid skills, basic British Sign Language, problem solving and many more skills essential to succeeding in this field. 

Humanities Academies

These academies (Geography, Economics, History, Philosophy and Religious Studies) allow students to extend their learning beyond the classroom and learn about topics of interest which may not be directly covered in the A Level specifications. Students have the opportunity to listen to university lecturers from prestigious universities such as Lancaster, Manchester, Oxford, Warwick and York; and are invited to attend university style seminar sessions focused around extra reading and work on examination technique, in order to reach the top grades.

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. 

Modern Foreign Languages Academies

We offer a range of activities throughout the year to help prepare you for the next steps on your MFL journey. These typically include competitions such as the UK Linguistics Olympiad, coaching for Oxbridge applicants, assistance with UCAS personal statements for university entry, and guest speakers. We aim to offer trips to France and Spain as the main focus of our MFL Academy, and we strongly advise keen linguists to participate. To help you make the most of your time overseas, you will be given language tasks to complete, such as making vlogs and conducting video interviews with native speakers – all in the target language.

Music Academy

This Academy allows for performance opportunities in a range of music genres including classical, jazz and folk, allowing students a broad range of musical experiences. It supports A Level subject understanding by giving extra theory tuition and by allowing students to experience, in a practical way, some of the music studied. In the second year students study jazz works, which they can play in the jazz ensembles. This helps students to gain a deeper understanding of the music, supporting the most talented towards achieving the very highest grades. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Revit Academy

Begin your exciting journey of Revit Academy and get first-hand theoretical and practical experience of industry standard architectural and engineering software. This academy will give you the chance to embark on a creativeness journey in civil/architectural technology and allow you to explore architectural design through simple modular housing schemes, small offices designs and school design.

Social Science Academies

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.