Information for prospective volunteers
Please note that we are not arranging STIMULUS school placements this term (Autumn/Michaelmas 2024).
STIMULUS places university students in local primary and secondary schools,
to help with mathematics, science, ICT and technology lessons. You might help
generally in the classroom, or work with a group of particularly able pupils, or
help individuals who are struggling, or carry out practical work with small
groups.
Your placement will be for a couple of hours each week during term, at a time
to fit around your lectures and other commitments. The commitment is for one
term (about six visits) although many volunteers return for more. There is an
orientation meeting at the start of term, and a training session during the
school half-term.
The scheme is mainly designed for those taking maths, science and engineering subjects, but is open to students studying other subjects who are confident that their subject knowledge is sufficient for the age group they want to work with.
The only exception is that we do not make placements for freshers in
Michaelmas term, but you can still register your interest ready for Lent term.
You don't have to have any teaching experience; training will be provided, and
the school staff will explain what they want you to do.
You can sign up to STIMULUS here.
The deadline for applying for a placement in Michaelmas Term is midnight on Friday 11 October 2019.
Privacy Statement
The personal information that you give us on this registration form will be processed and held by, and may be shared within, the University of Cambridge.
We will use your personal data to keep records necessary for organising STIMULUS placements, and to communicate information about STIMULUS. We may also use your contact details to send a link to an evaluation form after your placement to gather feedback and evaluate impact.
Some of your personal information (name and email address) will also be shared with your placement school.
• The coordinator will use the information provided to match you to a placement.
• Your name and email address will be shared with the school in which you are allocated a placement.
• Your college rep may be given your name.
• Colleges and departments are given a list of their students who have participated in STIMULUS each year.
• The coordinator will also record whether you have been cleared by the Disclosure and Barring Service, and schools will be able to check whether your DBS certificate has been issued. In the event of the disclosure showing anything untoward, the record will show only that you have not yet been cleared; for further information, see our DBS policy.
• If you have any concerns, please contact the coordinator.
The information you provide on the registration form may also be anonymised and used to produce statistics, such as volunteer participation numbers. We may use this in reports and evaluation/research materials.
For more information about how we handle your personal information, and your rights under data protection legislation, please see https://www.information-compliance.admin.cam.ac.uk/data-protection/gener....
- How far away are the schools?
- Although most of them are outside the immediate university area, they are
all within 15-20 minutes cycle ride. We bear in mind whether you cycle when
arranging the placements.
- Why is there no STIMULUS in the Easter term?
- By the time we take out half-term week, there's only about three weeks
before you start exams, so it's not worth starting new placements. However, if
you've been in a school in the Lent term, you are entirely welcome to arrange
with the school to continue in the Easter term if you'd like to.
- Read the Student Volunteers Booklet
- You should be given a Student Volunteer's Booklet at the briefings, but it's also
available here.