A world-famous university had some new arrivals as students from the Purbeck School in Wareham took an inspirational trip to Cambridge.

In the first week of term, 18 ‘high attainers and performers’ from Years 9 and 11 took a three-day residential trip to Downing College at Cambridge University.

Assistant headteacher, Simon Holmes said the trip aimed to fit in line with The Purbeck School’s motto, ‘resilience, aspiration and respect’ by inspiring students and boost aspiration.

He added the school regularly organised a trip to Oxford University as the school aimed to ensure students had knowledge and access to every opportunity available to them, but this was the first time the school had visited Cambridge.

Mr Holmes said the students had a “great experience” taking in a range of activities.

The pupils got a taste of undergraduate life at Cambridge, staying in single student rooms of their own at Downing College and taking tours of both Downing and Magdalene colleges.

They also got a ‘real sense’ of the universities facilities as they explored the library and were even provided with impressive breakfasts, lunches and dinners by the university.

During the days the students visited the newly-opened Museum of Zoology and took part in workshops with academics on subjects such as medical ethics and cellular biology which Mr Holmes said “really stretched the students.”

Mr Holmes added since returning from the trip, he had received several phone calls and emails from parents stating the trip had made a real difference to to the aspirations of the pupils.

“It’s definitely cemented some academic aims,” Mr Holmes said. “And some of them have been sharing their experiences with teachers and their classes so it has had an ongoing effect - so in a way everybody wins.

“They also had the opportunity to learn more about applying for university, whether that be Cambridge or any other university. Personally, I felt it was really encouraging to see a commitment from a university like Cambridge, welcoming normal state school students and encouraging them to think about it as an option. It felt like a really positive outreach,” he said.

He added the school would soon be undertaking trips to Oxford, Exeter and Southampton universities.