Year 6 Visit The University of Sussex
Year 6 spent the day at the University of Sussex for their third and final session of the 'Explorer's Programme,' which is run by student ambassadors from the university.
The session began in the University's largest lecture theatre - it is so large it can seat 500 students at any one time! The children took part in a quiz where they learnt that the oldest student currently on roll at the university is 83 years old!
From there the children were split into two groups; one group went and had a taste of a university style mathematics lesson, whilst the other went and had a tour of the entire campus. The children then swapped after lunch.
In the Mathematics lesson, where the children learnt how Maths can be used to predict the spread of bacteria and diseases, the children blew their teachers away - and some of the university lecturers - away with their enthusiasm and knowledge! The children had a go at creating line graphs and explaining patterns and were then shown a thermal imaging camera! The children (and the teachers) were amazed by what the camera could do and how they are used in Science today.
During the tour of the campus, the children were shown where the different seminars and lectures take place; the library which holds 750,000 books; the student union; the sports complex and even a flat in one of the halls of residence! The children learnt a lot about university life, including the hundreds of societies which the children can join. The 'Cat Appreciation Society' and the 'Tea and Cake Society' were particular favourites, but Miss Crane definitely took shine to the 'Harry Potter Society!'
The day came to an end with a graduation ceremony, in which all of the children wore gowns and a mortarboard! They each received a standing ovation from their classmates and teachers as they received a certificate to mark their graduation from the 'Explorer's Programme.'
As with every trip the children have gone on this year, the children were impeccably behaved at all times and an asset to the school. They left the University inspired and full of aspirations for the future!
