FORTY Year 10 pupils from a Swindon school took a special trip to Oxford Brookes University on Thursday to explore higher education.

Every year the university holds a series of Passport Days for Year 10 pupils from selected schools across Swindon, Oxfordshire, Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire.

The aim of these events is to raise the aspirations of the young people who attend and to inform them about higher education.

Pupils had a tour of the university’s Headington Campus, including the multi award-winning, £132m John Henry Brookes Building which opened in 2014.

They also spent the day taking part in a range of activities with current Brookes students, exploring different aspects of higher education.

The pupils on the recent Passport Day were from Isambard Community School, who Two other passport days will be held in early 2016 with St Joseph’s Catholic College and The Ridgeway School.

Alice Wilby, UK Recruitment and Partnerships Director at Oxford Brookes University said: “We have been running these events for ten years, as part of our widening participation work to raise the aspirations, awareness and attainment of young people. Last year we ran four successful Passport Days with Swindon schools and over 120 pupils attended. Teachers and pupils alike are always positive about these events and give great feedback about the content, organisation and delivery.”said the visit had changed their thoughts about maybe going on to higher education.

The university also runs an adapted Passport Day for The Riverside Centre, run by the educational service EOTAS Swindon - Education Other Than At School.

It supports vulnerable pupils and tries to rebuild their self-esteem to get them back into mainstream schools.

More information about Oxford Brookes’ work with schools and colleges can be found on the UK Recruitment and Partnerships webpages at www.brookes.ac.uk.