UNIVERSITY staff are helping young minds in Yate develop a degree or two.

Bath University teachers are working with Woodlands Primary School, the primary phase of Yate International Academy, in an outreach programme believed to be one of the first of its kind in South Gloucestershire.

The aim of the partnership is to raise children’s aspirations for a university education.

Children and parents from Woodlands visited the university where they were given a tour of the campus and enjoyed fun workshops in a variety of subjects.

Year 5 and year 6 students started the morning with an introduction to engineering, being challenged to build the tallest tower using only marshmallows and spaghetti. This was followed by a liquid nitrogen show and a hands-on experience with fossils and live snakes.

Parents were also invited along to get involved with the sessions and to express their opinions on further education.

University staff answered questions and provided information about the costs and accessibility of a university education.

Children and parents were treated to an impromptu street drama by university students which demonstrated how life on campus could be fun as well as educational.

Staff from the university then visited the school on Monday, when they held a number of presentations with parents and set tasks for pupils.

Woodlands assistant principal Julie Hogan said: "The partnership with Bath University has really engaged our children with thinking about their future; the children and their parents now consider further education at university a distinct possibility.

"Working with the student ambassadors through fun and creative projects has encouraged them to look at the wider fields of science, technology, engineering and maths and reflect on how they are used in their everyday lives."

Lauren Curtis, outreach officer at Bath University, said: "The year 5 and year 6 students worked really well with all of the tasks and learned a lot about university and the courses we offer.

"On Monday we had the opportunity to come and visit the students in their classroom to make a presentation on what they have learned and enjoyed. Following this, they asked our student ambassadors some great questions about university life."