MAKING sure pupils have the same opportunities as others from more affluent families is the aim of a new enrichment programme at a south Hereford school.

Andrew Varey, head of maths at the Hereford Academy, has put together a group of 30 pupils consisting of the six highest achievers from each year group, year 7 to 11.

With funding from the National Collaborative Outreach Programme the school has taken the pupils to London to see a West End show and next month plan to fly to Edinburgh - many of the pupils have never been to London or flown in a aeroplane before.

By giving the pupils these opportunities, Mr Varey hopes they will be encouraged to realise their potential and might go to university, which they may not have considered before.

Mr Varey said: "We have been given some funding from the National Collaborative Outreach Programme to give the students the opportunity to take part in a variety of enrichment activities.

"Many of them may not have been out of Hereford very often, may have not been to London, may have not been on an aeroplane etc. So we hope these activities will inspire them to do great things and give them experiences that some of their more affluent peers might get; obviously we hope that they will be mixing with these when they go to college/university."

They are aiming to do one event each half term.

On Friday they did some problem solving in Hereford based around ‘Finding the tallest structure in Hereford.’

The pupils measured angles of elevations of tall buildings around the city to then use trigonometry in order to work out the height. They were then going to make clinometers in school.

Maths teacher Claire Tunna said the exercise showed how trigonometry can be used in a career. For example, a tree surgeon would need to use it when cutting down a tree.

Ms Tunna said: "They are amazing and really bright kids. We want to get them to put that to good use."

Their next outing is to Edinburgh in March when they fly from Bristol Airport.