Meteor strikes Teesside

Over 450 local primary school children will be attending the sixth annual Meteor Summer School in June and July at the University of Teesside.

The Meteor scheme aims to raise the aspirations of pupils, aged 10 and above, by inviting them into the University for a series of short taster activities. Student mentors then work in schools with the pupils throughout the year, prior to the Summer School that involves a wider range of activities. This year’s Summer School will end in a special mini-graduation for all the children at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Tuesday 13 July.

The University launched the Meteor programme in 1999 in collaboration with Middlesbrough Borough Council (funded by Single Regeneration Budget) initially involving six primary schools in central Middlesbrough. The programme now includes a further five schools from Middlesbrough and four schools from East Cleveland.

During the Summer School, which runs on Monday 28, Tuesday 29 June and Thursday 1, Friday 2, Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 July, year six pupils (aged 10 - 11) will take part in a range of activities, including:

• Virtual Reality – Using state-of-the-art VR technology, the children will make a virtual flight over the lake district in a military jet, as well travel back in time to visit Guisborough Priory when it was first built
• Crafts - creating decorative tiles from clay, with a summer theme
• Digital Music – making music the modern way
• Science – Live Wire is an electrifying hands on workshop to find out where electricity comes from, how to build simple circuits and learn how to power a light, speaker or propeller
• Maths – an inspiring approach to maths using educational games, to build children’s confidence, enthusiasm and knowledge

Gary Crawley, Student Mentor Co-ordinator, said: “Meteor has been a resounding success from day one, and I’m really excited about this year’s Summer School. I think it’s our best yet and I’m sure that the children will really enjoy and benefit from it.”

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