Foundation entry
The main entry point. Open to students from any prior schooling. Prepares students for senior academic rigour with comprehensive subject study and early computational engineering.
Admissions & Entry · The AI-Project School
One programme. One diagnostic path. Three entry points.
We admit students year-round into our 1-to-1 online STEM programme. Combining official GCSE, iGCSE, and A-Level curricula with the project-based Catalyst AI Diploma, we evaluate applicants on curiosity, project commitment, and independent thinking rather than conventional entrance exam scores. Our students achieve verifiable results — including 269/270 in OCR A Level Chemistry and top national rankings — through dedicated 1-to-1 instruction and audited AI workflows.
Entry points
When students join.
11+ · Year 7
14+ · Year 10
GCSE, iGCSE & Diploma Core
The main external entry into the two-year GCSE/iGCSE and Diploma Core phase. Students prepare for formal examinations alongside five substantial, practical AI Diploma units.
16+ · Year 12
A-Level, International A-Level & Senior Phase
Entry to formal A-level study and our STEM research specialism phase. Open to students with strong GCSEs, iGCSEs, or equivalent prior academic records.
Mid-year entry is considered case-by-case, subject to availability. Please contact us to discuss.
The process
How to join — four diagnostic steps.
Initial consultation
Email admissions or use the contact form. We arrange an informal parent and student conversation to discuss intellectual interests, prior learning, and project alignment.
1-to-1 diagnostic & taste session
A dedicated 45-minute live 1-to-1 session with a Catalyst teacher for £79. Experience our virtual studio, diagnostic pacing, and project methodology directly before applying.
Project & portfolio submission
Rather than stressful entrance exam papers, students submit a piece of work they made or an idea they want to explore — code, a science experiment, an essay, or a technical build.
Tailored offer & onboarding
Offers issued within five working days with a personalised curriculum roadmap, hardware kit dispatch to your home, and an agreed start date.
Phase & Intake Explorer
Find your path.
Select your child's age group below to instantly view their core academic subjects, practical AI Diploma project track, expected professional certifications, and annual tuition details.
Foundation (Ages 11–14)
GCSE & iGCSE (Ages 14–16)
A-Level & Senior (Ages 16–18)
Foundation entry (Years 7–9)
Designed to establish a robust academic foundation in core subjects while introducing computational thinking and physical systems engineering from day one, leading into GCSE/iGCSE study.
- Core Academic Subjects: Mathematics, Sciences, English Literature & Language, Humanities, Languages
- AI Diploma Track: Python fundamentals, algorithmic logic, and IoT sensor operations
- Projects: Build physical sensor arrays, automated weather telemetry, and foundational robotics
£95,000
per year (fully online, 1-2-1 delivery)
GCSE & iGCSE Core entry (Years 10–11)
Official GCSE and iGCSE study across Pearson Edexcel, Cambridge Assessment, and Oxford AQA specifications, combined with intensive cloud engineering and the five-unit AI Diploma.
- Formal Examinations: GCSE & iGCSE in Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, and English
- Parallel AI Diploma: Five-unit Diploma Core programme, serverless cloud architecture, secure systems scripting
- Professional Certifications: Guided training toward AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) by age 16
£100,000
per year (fully online, 1-2-1 delivery)
A-Level & International A-Level entry (Years 12–13)
Rigorous A-Level preparation delivering traditional university matriculation credentials, combined with advanced technology specialism, an original STEM research thesis, and incubator support.
- Formal Examinations: A-Level / International A-Level in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Computer Science
- Parallel AI Diploma: Advanced machine learning model training, university-grade research thesis, startup incubation
- Professional Certifications: AWS Solutions Architect Associate and Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) training
£110,000
per year (fully online, 1-2-1 delivery)
What we look for
The three things that matter.
Catalyst is academically selective. We're looking for students who will thrive in an environment where they work intensively with world-class teachers, pursue STEM projects that demand genuine effort, and are held to high standards in both formal qualifications and project work. The strongest applications show: genuine intellectual curiosity (the student is excited by ideas, not just grades); evidence of self-direction (a project, a problem the student chose to solve, a subject pursued in depth); and a willingness to be coached (open to feedback, comfortable being challenged). Prior AI experience is welcome but not required — we build that here.
After Catalyst
Where our leavers go.
Our students leave with a portfolio of demonstrable work and a Catalyst AI Diploma award. They progress in four broad directions:
UK universities
Strong GCSEs, A-levels and a portfolio of real project work, combined with industry certifications (AWS, Red Hat) that most applicants don't hold, make Catalyst leavers stand out across every application route — including competitive STEM courses at leading universities.
Overseas universities
US, EU and Asian universities are more flexible on standardised testing than UK admissions allow for. Portfolios travel well; our leavers have applied to engineering, CS and liberal arts programmes across multiple continents.
Degree apprenticeships & industry
Straight into work with technology firms, startups, and accredited apprenticeship routes — including degree apprenticeships that combine paid employment with a university qualification.
Their own ventures
Some students leave to keep building. The Diploma portfolio is what they need to raise their first round, hire their first collaborator, or join an accelerator. A small number do this each year.
Catalyst is a young school and our progression network is growing year on year. The Head of Sixth Form and our admissions advisers work one-to-one with every Year 13 student on their next step.
2027 entry
Key dates & onboarding.
| Stage | Schedule |
|---|---|
| 1-to-1 Diagnostic Sessions (£79) | Bookable weekly throughout term time |
| Rolling Admissions | Open year-round subject to 1-to-1 faculty capacity |
| Autumn Cohort Hardware Dispatch | By 15 August for September onboarding |
| Diagnostic Offers & Pacing Plans | Issued within 5 working days of portfolio review |
| Spring & Summer Sprints | Modular entry available for January and April terms |
Fees
What it costs.
Fees for the 2027–28 academic year. Delivered entirely online, worldwide.
Foundation (Y7–9)
£95,000
per year
One dedicated teacher covering Maths, Science and English, with the Catalyst AI Diploma foundation strand built in from day one.
Diploma Core (Y10–11)
£100,000
per year
GCSE-specialist 1-2-1 teaching in Maths, Science and English, the full five-unit Diploma Core programme, and dedicated project supervision toward AWS and Red Hat certification.
Senior Phase (Y12–13)
£110,000
per year
A-level specialist 1-2-1 teaching in the Sciences and Maths, STEM research supervision, and one-to-one university, degree-apprenticeship, or venture-building coaching through to leaver status.
Sibling discounts available. A small number of Founder's Scholarships are offered each year to exceptional candidates on talent alone, assessed separately from fee status.
Not ready to apply yet? Prospective families can book a single introductory 1-2-1 session with a Catalyst teacher — £79, one session only — as a direct taste of the teaching before applying. This isn't an ongoing tutoring service; families wanting continued 1-2-1 access should apply for full enrolment.
Common questions
Things parents ask.
Do your students sit GCSEs, iGCSEs, and A-levels?
Yes — GCSEs, iGCSEs, and A-levels are central to our academic programme. We prepare students for leading UK and international examination boards including Pearson Edexcel, Cambridge Assessment International Education, and Oxford AQA. Our students achieve verifiable results — such as dropping just 1 mark to score 269/270 in OCR A Level Chemistry — through dedicated 1-to-1 coaching with subject masters, supported by AI tools that target each student's individual strengths and conceptual boundaries. Rigorous formal qualifications and real-world project capability go hand in hand here.
So what does my child come out with at 16?
At 16, a Catalyst leaver holds: official GCSE and iGCSE examination results; a Catalyst AI Diploma award; a verified STEM project portfolio; and industry certifications including AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and Red Hat credentials. These are not basic school certificates. They are actual vendor-issued qualifications that technology employers use to hire working engineers.
Is the Catalyst AI Diploma regulated by Ofqual?
The Catalyst AI Diploma is an independent award, externally moderated by a panel of former chief examiners, university admissions tutors, and technology leaders. Crucially, all GCSE, iGCSE, and A-Level qualifications sat by our students are fully Ofqual-regulated or internationally accredited through recognized exam boards like Pearson Edexcel, Cambridge International, and Oxford AQA. Students sit their official exams at verified test centres worldwide, guaranteeing complete university, college, and employer recognition globally.
How is AI used responsibly with children?
We publish our principles (see About). Tools are vetted, age-gated and logged. We use enterprise-grade systems with UK/EU data residency. Pupil data is never used to train external models. A teacher signs off every academic decision.
What if my child has never used AI before?
That is the most common starting point. AI literacy is built in from Year 9 — prompting, evaluation, provenance, and responsible use are explicitly taught.
Is Catalyst online or in person?
Fully online. Every student has a dedicated 1-2-1 teaching team delivering live lessons wherever they're based — no relocation, no term-time boarding, no commute. The same teaching team, the same Academic Director, term to term.
Can I apply from overseas?
Yes. Since Catalyst is delivered fully online, worldwide, international students can join the complete 1-2-1 programme from anywhere in the world. See our International page for more details.