What PiXL Pioneer is
PiXL Pioneer is a fully-funded scholarship programme run by PiXL. We accept 50 students per programme. They join us online for ten weeks, working with mentors, completing weekly activities, and taking on a team challenge.
Pioneers who complete the full ten weeks receive £1,000 in cash, a certificate, and a reference for their CV.
The programme is free to students and free to schools.
For students who aren't selected
Pioneer accepts 50 students per programme, so not every applicant will get a place. Any 14 to 19 year old in the UK can download the PiXL Pioneer app and access the a wide range of free content. The app doesn't include the live mentor sessions, the team challenge, the cash, or the certificate.
Who it's for?
To be eligible, students must be:
- Aged 14 to 19 at the start of the programme in October
- In full-time education
- Facing genuine barriers to opportunity
- Able to commit to all ten weekly sessions
You'll know your students best. We're looking for those facing barriers such as:
- Growing up in a low-income household
- Living in an area with fewer opportunities
- Being from a minority ethnic background or experiencing discrimination
- Having a disability, long-term health condition or learning difficulty
- Having caring responsibilities at home
- Facing mental health challenges
- Not feeling like school has always worked for them
- Being eligible for free school meals
- Being the first in their family to go to university or into higher education
- Having a challenging home life that's affecting their education, like addiction or pregnancy
- Being neurodivergent (for example ADHD, autism or dyslexia)
- Being care-experienced or living away from their birth family
- Being a refugee or from a migrant background
- Having limited access to networks, mentors or role models
We don't ask for grades. We don't ask for a CV. We look for potential and commitment.
How the application works
Read the programme details. Students start at pixlpioneer.org.uk and check they meet the criteria.
School and family verification. We may contact you and a parent or carer to verify a few details about the application. This is usually a short call or email.
Five-minute written application. Students answer a short set of questions about themselves and their situation.
Board review and selection. Our board reads every application, watches every video, and selects the 50 Pioneers for the programme.
Video answer to one question. If their written application meets the criteria, we invite them to record a short video answering one question. This is where we hear their story in their own words.
Confirmation meeting. Selected students join a 30-minute online meeting with the team to confirm their place and prepare for the start of the programme.
Safeguarding
PiXL Pioneers runs entirely online. Every live session has at least two DBS-checked PiXL staff members present. Mentors are vetted before joining the programme and don't have direct contact with students outside scheduled sessions. We have a designated safeguarding lead overseeing the programme.
Our full safeguarding policy is available on request from [email]. If you have specific concerns about a student in your care at any point, please contact us directly.
Sharing it with your students:
If you know students who'd benefit, we'd be glad of your help in pointing them toward us. We've put together a small set of free resources you can use:
- An A4 poster for noticeboards
- A short tutor-time briefing
- A copy-paste paragraph for newsletters and parent emails
- A 90-second video for assemblies
Email [email] and we'll send the pack across.
Questions you might have
Is there a cost to the school?
No. Pioneer is free to schools and free to students. It is fully funded by PiXL.
Will this take students out of lessons?
No. Live sessions run outside the school day. Self-directed activities are done in students' own time. The programme is built to fit around school, not compete with it.
What if a student needs to miss a session?
Students can catch up on content, and the programme itself accommodates the occasional miss. However, the £1,000 cash payment is conditional on attending all ten weeks.
What if I think a student in my school would benefit?
Direct them to pixlpioneer.org.uk. If you'd like a resource pack to share, email [email].
How does this fit with our safeguarding responsibilities?
Pioneer follows safeguarding protocols designed for working with young people online. Our staff are DBS-checked, our mentors are vetted, and we have a designated safeguarding lead. We're happy to share the full policy and to answer any questions.
Can the school nominate students directly?
Not at present. The application is led by the student. But you can absolutely encourage students you think would benefit. Many of our strongest applicants come from a teacher or pastoral lead simply pointing them toward us.
How will I know if a student from my school has applied?
You may not, unless we contact you for verification. Students apply directly and don't need school nomination..
We're already a PiXL member or partner school. Does that change anything?
No. The application process and selection criteria are the same for students at member, partner and non-member schools.
Can a student keep the £1,000 if they have to leave the programme partway through?
The £1,000 is conditional on completing all ten weeks. If a student has to leave for genuine reasons, contact us and we'll talk it through.
Need to talk to us?
We'd rather you ask than wonder. Call us on [number]
