Professor Iain Stewart helps launch The Children’s University for Devon

Plymouth University and Devon County Council have jointly developed the Devon initiative and will validate the programme, which will be run by participating schools, with the help of accredited ‘public learning destinations’ such as Paignton Zoo, Newton Ferrers Riding School, and Living Coasts.

Students enrolled at The Children’s University will earn special passport stamps when they take part in learning activities, and every year, those who reach the gold standard of 100 hours will graduate on the Plymouth University campus.

Professor Stewart said: “In its focus upon life-long learning and raising aspirations, the aims and vision of The Children’s University dovetail very closely with our own here at Plymouth.

“We want to help create exciting learning opportunities, and to give young people the confidence to explore subjects in their own way. Most importantly, we want to make sure that learning is fun.”

There are around 70 different Children’s University branches across the country and the movement is spreading into Europe and other continents. The Devon branch will work alongside the existing Children’s University in Plymouth, which is run by Plymouth City Council. Plymouth University will also establish a new Children’s University in Torbay later this year.

The official launch took place at Okehampton Community College, where children were able to enrol, collect their passports, and receive a message from Professor Stewart.

Dave Croot, a Teaching Fellow in Plymouth University’s Teaching and Learning Directorate, will manage the Devon branch. He said: “One of the things we will be looking to do is put Plymouth University students back into their home communities to act as role models for the children. We are working with the School of Education to provide opportunities for those on teacher training courses to develop their skills in running out-of-classroom activities."

He added that the Children’s University would initially target those areas with the lowest levels of aspiration and attainment, and thus help fill the void left by the dismantling of the national Aimhigher programme.