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7 great YouTube channels for secondary students
If you’re anything like us, you love a good YouTube binge! As we’re sure you know, YouTube isn’t just an endless source of cat videos, it’s a great place to get tips and hacks on all aspects of life – and careers and education is no different.
In this post, we’ve pulled together seven great YouTube channels for secondary students in the UK.
And if we’ve missed any of your favourite channels, let us know at team@successatschool.org
1. Success at School
Topic: Careers
Our YouTube channel is packed with snappy animated videos introducing concepts such as apprenticeships, work experience, key skills and school subjects. We’ve also done loads of webinars with our employer and industry partners – and we’ve uploaded these to our channel too. These include revision masterclasses, panel discussions to help you decide between university and apprenticeships, as well as Q&A sessions with employers.
- Type of content: Animated videos, webinar recordings
- Topics include: Why study school subjects, choosing GCSE subjects, revision techniques
- Main age range: 14-18
- Country: UK
- What’s unique? Short colourful explainer videos
- Typical video length: 2 mins (animations), 1 hour (webinars)
2. YoungMinds
Topic: Mental health
YoungMinds is a charity devoted to improving the wellbeing and mental health of young people. Their YouTube channel is largely campaign focused, with stories and case studies highlighting different aspects of mental health, showing you that you’re not alone in experiencing challenges. You might find the specially curated school stress revision playlists useful – there are five playlists covering different musical styles from rock to hip hop/R&B and even classical.
- Type of content: Campaign content, testimonials, music playlists
- Topics include: Anger, making a self-soothe box, young British Muslims discuss mental health
- Main age range: 14-18
- Country: UK
- What’s unique? Mobile-friendly YouTube shorts
- Typical video length: 2-3 mins
3. How to ADHD
Topic: Neurodiversity
How to ADHD helps people with ADHD navigate a society geared towards the needs of neurotypical people. The channel is packed with practical videos on all aspects of life – from socialising, doing your homework and just getting things done. Videos also explain different aspects of ADHD, such as its effect on things like executive function and motivation – perfect for sharing with friends and family.
- Type of content: How-to guides for people with ADHD (and their friends and family)
- Topics include: Communication, preparing for exams relationships, school and work, self-care, time management
- Main age range: All ages
- Country: US
- What’s unique? Practical guides for people with ADHD
- Typical video length: 5-20 mins
4. CrashCourse
Topic: Study and revision
CrashCourse is a US-based channel which contains over 45 courses. These cover school and college subjects such as the arts, maths and the sciences and the social sciences. Videos are short, typically between five and 15 minutes long, although there are longer ones as well. They are also based around engaging themes and discussion points such as ‘What is good art?’ and ‘The dark ages of the cosmos’.
- Type of content: Mostly short videos covering curriculum content (US, but many videos relevant to UK students)
- Topics include: Scientific method, industrial revolution, macroeconomics
- Main age range: 16-18
- Country: US
- What’s unique? Rich, in-depth videos presented by a tutor, with graphics, charts
- Typical video length: 15 mins
5. Primrose Kitten Academy
Topic: Study and revision
Primrose Kitten Academy is intended to be a stress-free way for you to revise for your GCSEs and A-levels – all the videos are presented by the same tutor (whose cat happens to be called Primrose Kitten!) With over 4,000 videos, the amount of content on this channel is pretty mind blowing. There is a separate channel for pretty much every subject at GCSE and A-level, with videos ranging from five minutes to over an hour. Each video covers its topic in detail, so if there is an area you need to brush up on, this is a great resource.
- Type of content: Long and detailed videos spanning the curriculum
- Topics include: The whole syllabus – for example, there is a playlist called ‘The whole of GCSE sociology’
- Main age range: 15-18
- Country: UK
- What’s unique? Designed to closely (and thoroughly) match the GCSE syllabus
- Typical video length: Various
6. UnJaded Jade
Topic: Study and revision
UnJaded Jade has been creating content for years – Jade has now graduated from uni and is still making videos! As well as academic material, Jade has made videos on surviving school, college and uni life, vlogged about her interrailing journey, posted about her veganism and created content on various challenges she’s undertaken over the years. You might find Jade’s Academia playlist, created during her GCSEs and A-levels, most useful.
- Type of content: Vlogs
- Topics include: Getting A*s in your GCSEs, making flashcards, what to do the night before an exam
- Main age range: 15-18+
- Country: UK
- What’s unique? Every video features Jade!
- Typical video length: 5-10 mins
7. SciShow
Topic: Science
SciShow showcases the weird and wonderful questions science can help us answer – from whether the solar system in fact has two hidden planets to why certain things smell good to us. SciShow makes science relatable to your everyday life as well as tackling some of the really big questions out there. This makes it a great way to while away a rainy afternoon – and a vital source of inspiration if you’re struggling to get cracking on that big pile of physics homework.
- Type of content: Explainer videos
- Topics include: What’s your cat dreaming about?, Why do our noses stick out?, Your best friend probably smells like you
- Main age range: All ages
- Country: US
- What’s unique?
- Typical video length: 5-10 mins
We hope this is a helpful run down of YouTube videos for secondary students to help you with your career decisions, mental health, and revision and study. We know you’ll have your favourite channel, so if you have any suggestions for us, please email us at team@successatschool.org.
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