THOUSANDS of schoolchildren will get a taste of university life when they take part in a special scheme at Teesside University this summer.

The first to make use of the award-winning scheme will be 600 ten and 11-year-olds.

The summer school is the climax of the Meteor programme and builds on earlier classroom-based work between student mentors, who are already students at the university, and schoolteachers.

The aim of the scheme is to raise aspirations and motivate the youngsters from primary schools in East Cleveland and Middlesbrough.

Summer schools for children of other ages will take place later in the summer.