PUPILS at a Newton Aycliffe school have been sharing their experience of university-style learning with an MP.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson visited Year 5 and 6 children at Sugar Hill Primary School this week to hear about their progress with the The Scholars Programme.

The initiative recruits, trains and places PhD researchers in non-selective state schools to deliver university-style tutorials based on their own research to small groups of pupils.

Youngsters at the school have been studying a course entitles Maths - Pythagoras Theorem with tutor Emma Brunton, of Newcastle University.

Mr Wilson said: “I was very impressed at how they engaged with such a complex and challenging academic topic. It just goes to show what young people from Newton Aycliffe can achieve if we give them the opportunity.”

Run by The Brilliant Club, the scheme will see pupils visit two highly-selective universities, where they will get information, advice and guidance about university life and making a an application.

Lead teacher Michael Jones said the programme had inspired pupils to consider university.