Year 5 Reading University Visit 2024
Inspiring Young Minds: Aspire2 Brings Year 5 Students to Reading University
On Thursday, 7th November, Aspire2 had the pleasure of organising a trip for the Year 5 pupils from New Christchurch Primary School, Whitley Park Primary School, Geoffrey Field Junior School, and Christ the King Primary School on an inspiring visit to Reading University. The day was filled with learning, laughter, and exploration, as the children participated in interactive lectures and toured the university campus.
This exciting initiative, aimed to give children from Whitley the chance to experience a world-class university environment and ignite their curiosity about the world of higher education.
A Day of Discovery.
The day kicked off with a series of captivating lectures designed to engage and educate young minds on a wide array of topics. Each student had the chance to attend one of three sessions:
- Meteorology: Weather Forecasting
A thrilling introduction to the science behind predicting the weather, where children learned about weather patterns, the technology used in forecasting, and the role meteorologists play in our daily lives. - Brain Mysteries: Making Memories
In this mind-bending session, students discovered the mysteries of memory formation and learned about the fascinating world of cognitive science. A special highlight was the optical illusions, which amazed and intrigued everyone in attendance. The illusions helped explain how our brains perceive the world, leaving the students in awe of just how complex and surprising our minds can be. - History: Life in Reading Then and Now
Taking a journey through time, students explored Reading’s rich history, gaining insight into how life in the area has evolved over the centuries. We were incredibly impressed by the children’s enthusiasm; they asked thoughtful questions and eagerly engaged in discussions, showing a genuine curiosity about their local history.
An Inspiring Campus Tour
After the lectures, the students enjoyed a tour of the Reading University campus, which gave them a glimpse into university life. They explored the grounds, visited key buildings, and saw firsthand the bustling, vibrant environment of a university setting. Many of them left inspired, their imaginations sparked by the possibilities that further education could offer. Lots of the children were impressed with the number of restaurants on campus!
Encouraging Bright Futures
Aspire2 is committed to creating opportunities for young people in Whitley by broadening their horizons and nurturing their dreams. This university visit is one of the many experiences we fund to empower local children with new ideas, knowledge, and confidence. Seeing their excitement as they absorbed new concepts and engaged with the university setting was a rewarding reminder of the impact these experiences can have.
Lucy Markwell from New Christchurch Primary School, said ‘the lecturer was fantastic in the way he facilitated the lecture and allowed children to ask questions around the topic, the children were excited to be able to ask relevant questions and show their knowledge from topics learnt in school’.
Huge thank you to Debi Linton and her team for facilitating such a fantastic opportunity for our Year 5 children.