A LEADING college has unveiled a pioneering scheme - the first of its kind in the country - to give hundreds of new students an early welcome.

In a move which is attracting national interest, Northallerton College has drawn up a programme designed to give prospective students from its partner school the best possible start to their GCSE studies.

College bosses say the ambitious project is aiming to boost self-confidence among youngsters making the big transition from school to college.

The main goal will be to help new students settle down quickly to life at the college, particularly as they start GCSE courses in the last two weeks of the summer term.

Under the scheme, all pupils in the top year group will transfer from the Allertonshire School later this month - four weeks earlier than usual.

And, during the first four weeks of the transfer project, the students will take part in a range of activities designed to help them solve problems in new ways.

These will include the 'Mission Possible' event on Monday which will see 300 Allertonshire pupils, moving across to the college at the age of 14, join 400 current college students as well as teachers, governors and parents for a competitive problem-solving day.

Formed into about 70 teams, they will be asked to come up with answers to questions on maths, science and technology.

Other activities during the transfer period will include a sports day and outings to museums and theme parks.

Assistant principal at the college, Andy Bayston, said: "It's a significant commitment to help students settle in and get the best possible start at the college.

"We ran a small project last year on similar lines but this is the first time we've done it on this scale and we know of no other school doing it.

"We've used our experience to make sure this year's programme forms an effective and beneficial bridge between the school and the college.