Learning about the world around us

Here at the аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ we offer a huge range of humanities and science courses, with something for everyone.  

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If you’re interested in the natural world, our geography and environment courses are the perfect choice. Our packed curriculum explores some of the biggest issues facing society, such as climate change and the fight against the destruction of some of Earth’s most precious resources. The option to learn in person or online means that our geography courses can whisk you away to a far-flung corner of the globe, all without you ever having to leave your own home. 

Studying a science

If you choose to take one of our psychology courses you’ll be immersed in the study of the human mind. With options to learn about memory and identity, you’ll get the chance to explore and debate some of the most famous psychological experiments.  

There’s also Sociology too, a subject that focuses on human behaviour, interaction, and relationships. If you’d like to explore some of the biggest questions in life, then our philosophy courses are for you. Small class sizes mean that you’ll get to discuss and debate in a supportive environment, all with an experienced tutor on hand.  

Attend a Humanities and Science course near you  

Whether you choose to learn from the comfort of your own home or opted for face-to-face learning at a local community venue, you’ll be taught by a talented tutor who is an expert in their subject. Our learning experience sets us apart from other providers, with learners regularly highlighting the difference that an encouraging environment makes. 

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History: 'Wish you were here’ – a history of holidays through the ages

What did it feel like to be a holiday maker in the past? Originally holidays were just Holy Days and a chance to make merry but they didn’t involve you leaving home. Travel for leisure really does not start until the 17th century with trips to a spa or seaside town for health reasons and to enjoy the social life. Later the Grand Tour is available for the wealthy. Change comes with the railways and cheap day trips, and in the 20th century paid holidays, seaside towns and holiday camps. Over the last 50 years overseas holidays, have been within the reach of many but what do current environmental and social concerns mean for the future? Join the class to find out more.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 24/04/2025 -
Thu 05/06/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Caterham Baptist Church (Caterham)
4 Beechwood Road
Caterham
CR3 6NA
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00013710
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

History: Advanced History: The Cross & the Crescent - The Crusades

The term will begin with an analysis of the condition of the remaining Christian Principalities of the Holy Land and the challenges they would face in the wake of the failure of the Second Crusade. In particular a continued study will be made of the growth and achievement of the Zengid dynasty, and how that would contribute to the further endangerment of Outremer. We will also look at the continued efforts of the Kingdom of Jerusalem to strengthen its own position within the region, and why those efforts would ultimately lead to further failure at the Battle of Hattin.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 28/04/2025 -
Mon 14/07/2025
Times:
7:15pm - 9:15pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Gary Slator
Course code:
Q00016038
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.80

History: Advanced History : Before 1066

We will begin by considering the later reign of King Cnut and the problems of the succession which then followed. We will elaborate on the more specific reasons as to why eventually Edward of Wessex was able to stake his claim once more upon his father’s throne. We will go on to consider the challenges posed against Edward and the re-establishment of his dynasty, as well as factors which would finally guarantee an independent Anglo-Saxon monarchy. We will also look at the rivalry with the Godwin family against whom King Edward Would find himself opposed later in his reign
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 29/04/2025 -
Tue 15/07/2025
Times:
11:45am - 1:45pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Gary Slator
Course code:
Q00016039
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.80

History: Essex Buildings, People and Places

Join us to investigate buildings across the county and discover the stories they tell. From when they were built and why, to what and who they were for, this course takes a selection of historic buildings including houses, shops, public buildings, places of industry and entertainment to start our exploration of the history of Essex people and places. By the end of the course you will have new places to visit and a starting place to investigate a building of your own.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 25/06/2025
Times:
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Billericay Reading Rooms (Billericay)
73 High Street
Billericay
CM12 9AS
Tutor:
Claire Parker
Course code:
Q00017709
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £67.20

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For just £15 a year, you can:

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Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

History, Napoleon: Citizen to Emperor

Explore the life and legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte with our History: Napoleon: Citizen to Emperor course. Learn about his rise to power, his impact on Europe, and the controversies surrounding his reign. Ideal for history enthusiasts and students of European history.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 11/06/2025
Times:
11:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Barking Enterprise Centre CIC (Barking)
50 Cambridge Road
Barking
IG11 8FG
Tutor:
Amy Miller
Course code:
Q00017373
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £70.00

Philosophy: Philosophy behind the Headlines

The course will briefly introduce the principal ideas of a selection of philosophers and apply these to the discussion of the news headlines and the controversies that lie behind them. This course will encourage discussion and sharing of ideas about current affairs and will involve reflecting on how to make philosophy a part of this discussion. Reading material will be provided on Canvas and the tutor will introduce the key ideas of relevant articles. However, reading before class is not essential. The main activity is to share ideas on news stories.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Thu 05/06/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Blue Beetle Room (London)
Hendon Lane
Finchley
London
N3 1TR
Tutor:
Daniel Williams
Course code:
Q00017388
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£60.00

History: Advanced History : Byzantium - the Great Age

How did the Roman Empire survive the great challenges it faced at the dawn of the 9th century? We will examine How the Empress Irene was able to not only maintain her status at court but also continue to pursue her own policies. We will go on to consider the difficulties posed by her irregular methods of maintaining imperial authority and how they in turn ultimately created the circumstances of her own downfall. Thereafter, we will look at the efforts made by her immediate successes to stabilise Roman interests both in the East and the West.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Thu 17/07/2025
Times:
11:45am - 1:45pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ (Derby)
The Mill
Lodge Lane
Derby
DE1 3HB
Tutor:
Gary Slator
Course code:
Q00016041
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.80

History: The History of the English Language

If you’re interested in finding out how the English language developed (and why we don’t all speak German, Danish or French instead of English) this course is for you. We look at the development of the English language through seven different lenses, starting with Old English (Anglo-Saxon) which built on Celtic languages and Latin. We explore the many influences on English including the Vikings through Old Norse, Norman French, Biblical English, Shakespearean English and Global English.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Thu 19/06/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Rebecca Eliahoo Charles
Course code:
Q00018033
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80

History: Architectural Pomp, Trauma & Resurgence, Berlin, 1800 to 2000

This course studies how the architecture of the dynamic Berlin that we see today has been shaped by the events of its troubled history and by the ambitions and styles of its leaders. From 1740 to 1945, Berlin saw a series of aggressive war leaders who sought to make Prussia and then Germany the dominant force in the world, eventually styling Berlin as the capital of the world. Utterly destroyed by 1945, Berlin was reborn as two distinct cities, one rebuilt in Western and the other in Communist styling. Since the Wall fell in 1989, the united city has flourished, embracing grand city plans and modern, hi-tech architecture.
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Course Information

Dates:
Sat 07/06/2025 -
Sat 07/06/2025
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Reading International Solidarity Centre
35-39 London Street
Reading
RG1 4PS
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00018042
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

Nature, Ecology & Permaculture: An introduction to Water and Plastic Pollution in the Environment

We will discuss the main sources of water pollution and the types of water pollution. We will list the major sources of water pollutants; describe the effects on water due to organic materials, plant nutrients and toxic, physical, and biological pollutants; list the main diseases caused by microorganisms that can be carried by water.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 10/07/2025 -
Thu 17/07/2025
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Neetside Community Centre (Bude)
The Crescent
Bude
EX23 8LB
Tutor:
Lee Armon
Course code:
Q00017798
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20


The courses below have already started, but are still available to book.

History: Artists at War

How art has been employed by belligerent countries in the First and Second World Wars, but also to represent war, often patriotically, over many centuries. We’ll look at a range of different examples from western countries to show the different approaches to art depicting war and its effects and how sometimes this has been directed by governments, not always simply for propaganda purposes.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 08/10/2024 -
Tue 05/11/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
David Price
Course code:
Q00018312
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

History: Irish History in 10 documents

This day school looks at a thousand years of Irish history through ten important historical documents. Through close study of the sources, we will attempt to shed light on the momentous events, personalities and trends in this most fascinating story. We will start in the twelfth century and from there move forward until we reach the twentieth century. Throughout we will not only consider the sources themselves and the history they reveal but also consider issues of reliability, provenance and authenticity. By the end of the school, we should have deepened our knowledge and understanding of Irish history and our ability to interrogate historical records
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 29/10/2024 -
Tue 29/10/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00018859
How you'll learn:
In venue
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £18.00