Around 90 year six pupils from Tollgate Community Junior School in Eastbourne “graduated” from the University of Sussex on Wednesday (17 June)  – wearing gowns and mortar boards.

The 10-year-old children were on campus taking part in the University’s recently launched Explorer’s Programme, which brings primary children on to campus and lets them explore university life and undergraduate-style study.

Working with university students and staff, the children were sent on a fact-finding trail round the campus and given a maths and physics exercise. They were shown around by university student ambassadors.

“We had a session where the children could ask us about ourselves and our course,” said Alice Paines, a third-year student who will graduate in Anthropology next month. "They asked loads of questions – including what time we have to go to bed and whether we are allowed to leave the campus."

The Explorer Programme aims to raise awareness and aspirations for pupils from Eastbourne schools where it is rare for pupils to progress into university after secondary school. Pupils from Langney Primary and West Rise Junior School Primary have also taken part in the initiative.

“The people here are really friendly and this seems like a nice place to be,” said Esme, one of the pupils.

Ann-Marie Bird, primary events co-ordinator of the University’s widening participation team, said: “These children are young for a campus visit but we want to prevent university from ever becoming a scary, unfamiliar or daunting prospect or a path that pupils feel isn’t for them.”

“Everything is so much bigger here than at school. I know I want to come to university. I want to study computer science and maths,” said Witold, one of the pupils. 

Louise Starley, a year six teacher, said that the Explorer day was an excellent way of raising the children’s awareness of what education is like after primary school. The children were amazed at the size of the university and that it was like a whole town rather than a school. “One girl has just told me she didn’t think she wanted to come to university – but now she definitely does.”