Exeter Scholars

Community Exe Programme

Community Exe is a brand new, free programme for 13-16 year old boys with an interest in sport, tech, music & communication or being an influencer for your generation.

We are here to help you aim higher and achieve more. Run by the University of Exeter and supported by the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust, we have teamed up with sports clubs, charities, and community groups across the South West to support Year 9-11 boys from free school meal or other disadvantaged backgrounds. We are here to show you how learning connects to real life and how it can help you get where you want to go.

You will meet new people, find out about future careers and develop your passion through activities run by professional sports teams, tech companies, musicians, the University of Exeter and more. You will build confidence, discover new opportunities, inspire you to reach your full potential. Ready to take on the challenge?

Applications will open in early January and the deadline is 21st February.

Check out our Community Champions here.

Community Exe is a group of individuals and organisations who have a shared interest in supporting young people to fulfil their potential and ensure equality of opportunity regardless of background. You will work closely through a range of practical workshops with Community Partners including the following: 

You will be inspired and motivated by our Volunteer Community Champions - they will share their lived experiences and advice throughout the programme and its events. See the Community Champions profiles here.

If you are successful, you will choose one of four Award Pathways to complete during your time on Community Exe:

  • Sport
  • Young Leaders
  • Music & Communication
  • AI & Technology

A summary of the broad areas covered by the Awards can be found in the table below:

Award Pathway

Pathway overview

Sport   

 

 
  • take part in a range of sports taster sessions.
  • gain insight into professional sport environments.
  • learn about the expertise and skills developed by and needed in sport, both transferable skills and the application of academic knowledge.
  • gain insight into different areas of the sports industry and careers in sport beyond being a professional athlete, to include the qualifications which can help you get there. 

Young Leaders  

 

 
  • meet a range of leaders from different industries who are leading in different environments e.g. leading sports teams, online influencers, media professionals, business leaders.
  • learn about the skills needed to lead, to include elements of psychology, great leaders of the past, entrepreneurship and student start-ups. 
  • gain insight into careers and voluntary opportunities in a range of different industries, to include qualifications which can help you get there. 
  • consider the different platforms used by leaders in modern day society. 

Music & Communication   

 

 

 
  • gain insight into the role that music plays in different cultures, society and industries. 
  • learn about the expertise and skills developed by and needed in performance, both transferable skills and the application of academic knowledge.
  • learn from academics and industry experts about communication technologies, to include gaming, and how they are a part of everyday life. 
  • meet people who have careers in a range of different industries which involve elements of sound, performance and communication, as well as finding out about the different educational pathways you can take to get there. 

Artificial Intelligence & Technology  

 

 
  • learn about the ways in which technology and artificial intelligence are used in a range of different industries from sports to security, sustainability to medicine and everything in-between. 
  • develop practical skills through interactive sessions with academics and industry experts.   
  • gain insight into different organisations using technology in their sector as well as insight into different careers and study options. 
  • experience different tech based tools and how they are used in the world around us. 

 

If successful, you will be invited to attend 5 on campus Award Days through Years 9 & 10 where you will work with the University, Community Partners and Community Champions to gain news skills and knowledge, find out more about different job sectors and careers, meet new people and develop a better understanding of their own strengths and interests.

Spread across the four Awards, examples of activity will include:

  • taking part in sport tasters with professional coaches.
  • meeting music industry professionals and spending time making music in the studio.
  • find out what goes into building and racing a formula student racing car
  • getting behind the scenes in the world of theatre and theatre production - both on and off stage.
  • learning how to start a business and the psychology behind being your own boss.
  • discovering how artificial intelligence is shaping the world around us and develop practical skills in the University labs.
  • getting hands on with experimentation and innovation tech play.
  • meeting leading experts in the fields of sports and health sciences, medicine, drama, languages, computer science, robotics and more.  

In addition to the Awards Day, you will work in their school groups, led by current University of Exeter students, to contribute to the Community Exe voice project.

You will be invited to contribute your ideas to help co-create a collective picture of what boys feel is expected of them from society and what they need to be successful, the results from which will be shared back with schools and teachers.  

Participating in Community Exe will:

  • Provide you with new life experiences.
  • Develop specialist skills and/or knowledge linked to your Award Pathway.
  • Provide access to inspirational role models.
  • Increase motivation and improve attitudes to learning in the classroom.
  • Provide you with first-hand careers insight through working with experts in their field.
  • Create a sense of personal achievement as well as increased self-efficacy and confidence.
  • Improve your communication skills and provide you with a platform for your voice in relation to your own educational success.  
  • Develop transferable skills.
  • Provide you with insight into the opportunities available at university, particularly the University of Exeter.
  • Enable informed decision making about participation in higher education.
  • Unlock a progression route onto the Exeter Scholars programme in Year 12.

If you are in Year 9, at a Community Exe partner school and you meet one of the following eligibility criteria then we’d welcome an application from you – 

  • In receipt of free school meals
  • Young carers
  • Care experienced
  • Declared disability
  • Living in areas of low income or low participation in higher education
  • Refugee or asylum seeker status
  • First generation students  

Approximately 100 places will be available in the first cohort of the programme and participation will be fully funded, to include travel costs to attend Award Days.

Your parent/carers will also be invited to attend Award Days so that we can help them to support you on your journey through to GCSEs and beyond. 

If you are successful, we will send you full details about where to be and when as you work through the programme.​

5 Exeter based Awards Days for you and your parents/carers:

  • 29th March 2025​
  • 14th June 2025​
  • 8th November 2025​
  • February 2026​
  • June 2026 (Graduation)​

Lunch and refreshments will be provided on Awards Days and travel expenses paid for programme members.​ There will be 3 in-school Voice Project workshops between April – July 2025.