Some of our brightest Year 9 students have been challenged by lecturers from the University of Cambridge to take part in an exciting project.

The Race to the Top students were invited to the launch of a project by the university's Pembroke College which is designed to encourage younger students to take on an independent research project during the summer holidays on a topic of their choice.

At the end of the holidays the students will submit a written report to the university and the students who have produced the best reports will be invited to visit Pembroke College.

During the event at Kettering Buccleuch Academy they also heard history and engineering lectures by Dr Emily Jones and John Durrell from the university.

CBA Race to the Top Co-ordinator Charlotte Knight said: “We encouraged our students to take part in this project because we think it will open their eyes to the world of Further Education and the most prestigious universities.

“It should also help them to develop their independent learning and research skills.

“The students were excited about the project and two of them are already planning to do a project on coding.

“The launch event at Kettering Buccleuch Academy was very good because it gave the students the chance to meet university lecturers and have a taste of what a university lecture is like.”

(Pictured is lecturer John Durrell from the University of Cambridge at the launch event)