About 30 students visited Cambridge University as part of a programme to give them an insight into typical daily life at an Oxbridge College and the courses available to study.

The group was divided into two for the morning session, with the Year 9 and 10 students taking part in the University’s Science master class and the younger students at the specialisms of music, law and astronomy.

The younger students visited the university’s music faculty and learned about the rare gamelan instruments and took part in a practical session led by a conductor.

They then visited the law faculty and received a talk from a librarian, before  attending the Institute of Astronomy where they learned about meteorites and  were shown some telescopic equipment.

Teacher Felicity Cornish, who accompanied the students on the trip with Assistant Vice Principal Kirsty Farrar, said: “The students were an absolute credit to the Academy. They took an active part in the day and the questions that the students asked during the Astronomy talk were so good that the professor stopped the talk to answer them.

“Since we returned I have had an email from her to say what a wonderful group of students they were.”

In the afternoon all students took part in a short tour of the city – taking in famous colleges such as Kings College and the afternoon was rounded off with a tour of Emmanuel College.

At the college they also had the opportunity to speak to existing Cambridge students about life at the university.

Year 8 student Jack Webb said: “I thought it was fantastic experience as it was educational and fun.”

Miss Cornish said: “Following the trip a number of students said they were now keen to apply to the University.”