By Rochelle Owusu- Antwi: Young pupils will enjoy a taste of student life when they don caps and gowns and graduate from Stoke-on-Trent’s Children’s University.
It’s the third consecutive year the project has returned to Stoke after two successful runs.
Students from Staffordshire University clubs and societies are working with pupils aged 5 to 14 from schools across the city.
The African Caribbean Society run sessions at Harpfield School about African culture and the Dance, teaching Street and Latin dance classes.
Widening Participation officer for the project Peter Jones said: “Their energy and enthusiasm is really rubbing off on the kids.”
The nationwide scheme encourages learning through extra curricular activities. Each child is issued a passport they get stamped on completion when they will graduate.
Ceremonies celebrate achievement and engagement of the children.
Mr Jones said: “For some it is probably the first time they’ve ever been a success in a learning environment.
“Seeing the kids in the gowns and seeing their families and their pride and self confidence was marvellous and was very moving.”
Volunteer Mica Chaplin, 21, said: “The experience of working with the students has been educational. The kids know a lot more than you’d think and are very perceptive.”
“The project is about lifelong learning embedding the culture of learning into kids at a very early age”, Mr Jones added.
Graduation for this year’s intake will take place on April 1 at the university’s Stoke-on-Trent campus.
