Aspirations of university for Year 5
On Thursday 17th February, children from primary schools across South Reading were offered the unique opportunity to become university students for the day.
Hosted by Reading University, Aspire2’s 
Year 5 University Day was particularly exciting for this cohort as many of them had not been on a school trip since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The children each attended a lecture in one of the university’s lecture theatres, on topics such as The Atmosphere, Music Education, Science of the Brain, the Built Environment and Life’s Not Fair. These were delivered by university lecturers who enthralled and delighted the children with interactive activities, experiments and a small taste of what they would experience as undergraduate students. Following this, the pupils had a tour of the university campus and were able to explore what life is really like as a student at the University of Reading.
Both teachers and pupils alike enjoyed the day very much. Cynthia described her day as “really fun, especially the lecture about philosophy” and Masad said “I am really excited as I haven’t seen a university before. I think I would like to go to university to study English”.
Debi Linton, from the University of Reading, said: “It’s lovely to be able to invite primary aged children to the university again, and to show off our campus, which has felt very quiet over the last two years. The University is proud of our links with the local community and we hope that this experience will help children think of coming to university when they’re older!”
Helen Bligh, from Aspire2, is delighted that these trips are starting to happen again: “The children who come on these trips rarely get this sort of opportunity, especially over the last two years. It’s wonderful to see their happiness, enthusiasm and wonder as they experience a possible future they may have never considered. We are so proud of their good behaviour and engagement in the lectures – there were some brilliant questions for the lecturers!”