Inside Diamond: schools open days

The next Inside Diamond: schools open day for the 2025/26 academic year will take place on Thursday 4th June 2026. The ballot for this event is currently OPEN, and the entry form can be found below, alongside the ballot closing date. You will be notified of the outcome of your entry no more than 48 hours after the closing date.

The first 40% of places will be allocated by ballot to applying state schools located in areas where the IMD (Index of Multiple Deprivation) is 1-4, to align with STFC's Wonder Initiative. The remaining places will be allocated to remaining schools using a random number generator.

As these events are very popular, priority will be given to those schools who have either not attended an open day before, or who have had at least one clear academic year since their last attendance. This is to ensure the greatest fairness of opportunity.

Diamond offers these open days free of charge to schools.

• Thursday 26th March 2026 (Ballot closes: Sunday 8th February 2026)
• Thursday 4th June 2026 (Ballot closes: Sunday 26th April)

The session start times for these visits are: 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:15pm and 2:45pm

Please note: Whilst we have made every effort to ensure these dates are final, they may be subject to change depending on the schedule of work happening at Diamond. In that unlikely event, we will update the form and notify those who have already entered the ballot of this change.

Our Inside Diamond: schools open days welcome students in KS5 (A-level or equivalent) to Diamond to meet our scientists and engineers, find out about the exciting work taking place here, and have a tour of the synchrotron itself.

We hope that by visiting Diamond students will learn more about the practical application of their studies, stir their interest in science and engineering and perhaps encourage them towards further study.

A visit will take approximately 2 hours and will consist of:

• An introductory talk giving a general overview of Diamond and what it is used for.
• A guided tour, including a trip to see inside the synchrotron and our laboratories.
• An opportunity to talk to Diamond employees and ask them about their work and the facility.

• We can only accommodate a limited number of 'in person' visitors. To ensure that a variety of schools can join us we limit tickets to 24 people per booking (please note this number includes students AND staff).
• During the guided tour there will be extensive walking. We advise all visitors to wear comfortable, closed-toed footwear.
• We have very few restrictions for those with health and mobility issues. We will ask you to tell us of any special requirements during registration so we can ensure suitable tour routes are available.
• It can feel quite warm in the synchrotron building, so please utilise the facilities available to leave any layers or coats before the tours.

If the form above is not working, please use the link below to enter the ballot; 

Inside Diamond: schools open day ballot entry