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̽��ֱ��children were Year-6 pupils at Culloden Primary School in Tower Hamlets, East London who had come with their teachers to spend the day designing, making and launching cardboard rockets at Sidney Sussex College.

̽��ֱ��trip was organised by Bill Holledge, who studied English at Cambridge (Magdalene College) and stayed on at the university to take a PGCE at Sidney Sussex. He is now a Year-6 teacher at Culloden School – a post he describes as “an opportunity to make a real difference”.

̽��ֱ��day’s activities, which enhanced the school curriculum in maths and science for 55 pupils, were led by Dr Joy Warde, Outreach Officer at the Engineering Department, with the assistance of two undergraduate helpers. Also offering his engineering expertise was Dr Andrew Flewitt, Fellow of Sidney Sussex.

̽��ֱ��most successful rockets were those that were symmetrical and streamlined with gently tapering fins. Some achieved heights of more than 40 metres, prompting whoops of delight from the assembled children who stood on the terrace to watch as each rocket was put to the test.

This was the second time that a group of ten-year-olds from Culloden School had spent the day at Sidney Sussex. “I’m really keen to extend their aspirations and to give them a chance to achieve their ambitions,” said Mr Holledge.

Culloden School serves a large Bangladeshi community and 73 per cent of pupils have free school meals. ̽��ֱ��majority speak English as a second language. Their trip to Cambridge was their first taste of university.

Mr Holledge added: “Judging from their comments in the coach on the way back to London, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves and have developed a very positive view of university life – which has to be a good thing.”

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