One of the aims of the More Able Academy is to break down barriers and access to Higher Education.
One way in which this is done is by engaging with local universities, including Durham University.
Sixteen year 7 More Able Academy students visited Palace Green Library at Durham to take part in workshops with Durham4schools.
These sessions are organised and run by current university students who, as well as offering specialist subject activities, also speak to students about their experience of university.
The first session ‘What is a book?’ is designed as an extra-curricular activity to challenge students, asking them to determine what makes a book a book before considering what books and manuscripts can tell us.
The afternoon session focussed on the first world war artefacts and used primary source materials to examine what life was really like on the Western Front.
The students tried on uniforms and looked at maps and photographs from the trenches.
“As well as allowing students to access primary source material and artefacts, the day allowed students from Woodham to take on the role of a university student and pupils really rose to the challenge!” said the school.
“The students thoroughly enjoyed the day and many asked if they could visit again.”