ARU Winter Internship: Reach for the Stars Internship
Location: Chelmsford campus with travel to Essex schools.
Proposed start date: 4th of January 2027
Duration: 10 weeks
Hours: 20 hours per week
Pay rate: £13.45 per hour
Duties:
The Reach for the Stars Student Intern will support the planning, delivery and evaluation of ARU's flagship attainment-raising and aspiration programme for primary school pupils from underrepresented backgrounds. Working within the Schools and Colleges Engagement Team, the postholder will assist with the delivery of literacy-focused activities, school engagement, campus visits and Higher Education awareness sessions designed to improve educational outcomes and raise aspirations.
The intern will work closely with schools, student ambassadors and university colleagues to coordinate programme activities, maintain accurate records, collect evaluation data and contribute to reporting on programme impact. The role offers practical experience in educational outreach, project coordination, stakeholder engagement and programme evaluation while contributing to ARU's Access and Participation Plan objectives.
This internship is ideal for a student interested in education, widening participation, outreach or community engagement, providing valuable professional experience and the opportunity to make a positive impact on young people's educational journeys.
For more information about the role contact [email protected]
Required skills:
- ARU UG student
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
- Competency in Microsoft 365 applications.
- Confidence presenting to and engaging with groups of young people.
- Ability to build positive relationships with pupils, teachers and colleagues.
- Commitment to supporting children and young people to achieve their potential.
- Understanding of, or commitment to, widening participation, educational equality and social mobility.
- Ability to collect, manage and handle information accurately and confidentially.
- Professional, reliable and adaptable approach to work.
- Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn.
- Commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Desirable Skills and Experience:
- Experience working with primary-aged pupils, schools or youth groups.
- Experience delivering workshops, classroom activities or outreach sessions.
- Experience coordinating projects, events or programmes.
- Experience creating educational resources, reports or presentations.
- Experience of programme monitoring, evaluation or data collection.
- Knowledge of Higher Education outreach, educational disadvantage or Access and Participation Plans.
- Previous safeguarding training or experience in educational settings.
- Interest in careers relating to education, outreach, widening participation or student engagement.
Learning outcomes: The intern will gain a comprehensive understanding of how attainment-raising, aspiration-raising and evidence-based outreach programmes contribute to improving educational outcomes for under-represented learners, while developing the practical skills and professional experience needed for a career in education and student engagement.
Project Deliverables: The intern will produce robust evidence demonstrating how Reach for the Stars contributes to ARU's strategic goals of improving educational attainment, raising aspirations towards Higher Education and supporting progression opportunities for under-represented learners, while generating insights to inform future outreach practice.
How to apply: Please click on the apply button and submit a CV and Cover letter as part of your application
Closing date: 22 November 2026
Important notice: When making your application, feel free to use AI to enhance your CV and cover letter, but make sure to include REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES that clearly demonstrate your skills, experience, and knowledge. Applications that appear overly generic or lack evidence will be referred to the Employability and Careers team for further support and will not progress to the next stage of recruitment.