BRILLIANT young scientists from Teesside have graduated from Durham University.

The hard work of pupils from Guisborough’s Chaloner Primary School was recognised in a ceremony last week.

A PhD student has been working with the school’s Brilliant Club to give children an insight into university education.

Pupils were set a university-style assignment and had to write 1,000 words, which were then assessed by a tutor.

Every member of the Brilliant Club – which aims to reduce the gap between privately-educated and state-educated pupils in progressing to top universities – passed the assignment with flying colours.

They were invited to attend a tour of the university before graduating in front of friends and family.

Nine-year-old Freya Morris said: “Brilliant Club made me learn more things and made me think I want to go to university.

“We really had to try our best but it was interesting and I liked Durham – it’s humongous and I think I would get lost but it was really good.”

The school’s Brilliant Club co-ordinator, Wendy Pugh, added: “The children responded well to the challenges and have exceeded our expectations.

“We want all of our pupils to have confidence and the ability to enable them to fulfil their potential.

“The Brilliant Club helps them raise their aspirations and consider career paths they might previously have thought beyond them.”