'ABSOLUTELY amazing' — that was the verdict following a packed residential trip to London undertaken by the Aspire Project students from Tavistock College recently.

The 21 high achievers enjoyed three days crammed with experiences designed to open their eyes to opportunity and aim for the top.

Assistant principal Lucia Gallie said: 'The whole trip was fantastic, just amazing.

'The kids had a brilliant time, although we were completely exhausted by the end of it.'

Miss Gallie said staying at a youth hostel at St Paul's, right by the cathedral, was a plus in itself — not only for the stunning setting.

'Every time we walked by we had a barrage of information from the protestors, which was interesting in itself,' she said.

On the Thursday the students went to University College London and were given a talk by the administration team on maximising their chances of acceptance at university.

They were also given a tour of the campus by student ambassadors.

Miss Gallie said: 'The students found it really useful, its was the first time they'd experienced anything like this so it was really powerful, and it was great to hear about the university from the student ambassadors' perspective.'

After lunch at the British Museum the party went to the ING headquarters in the city and had a 'fantastic' presentation about careers in finance.

'They really treated them like adults and they rose to it brilliantly, they also had a tour of the trading floor, which was a real eye-opener' said Miss Gallie.

'One of the students was also given the offer of work experience in the summer, so it was really worthwhile.'

In the evening the party saw the West End show Wicked and on the Friday, they sat in on a high-profile murder case at the Old Bailey.

'I wished I could have had a camera in there with me — every single student was on the edge of their seat, with their jaws on the floor.

'The case involved crack dealing and a shooting and it was such an insight — I think it was possibly the highlight of the trip,' said Miss Gallie.

Another offer of work experience came for one of the group after a 'brilliant' presentation at the Institute of Civil Engineering, and the students also enjoyed a tour of the Houses of Parliament, a meal in Covent Garden and a visit to the Natural History Museum.

Miss Gallie said: 'The students were amazing throughout the trip, they were a credit to the college and to our area.

'It was brilliant to see the growth in them in just three days and the way their perspective was being changed.

'I always admire the way they rise to challenges and I was just bursting with pride for them.'

After the trip, student Eliza Austin-Hall said: 'My trip highlight was the visit to the Old Bailey because it was so interesting to watch such a good and twisted case!

Beth Kingdom said: 'I had a really amazing time and got to see and do things that I couldn't have otherwise done.'

This week Aspire Project master classes have begun, given by representatives from a wide variety of universities and professions.

It is the second aspect of the four-strand Aspire Project and students must attend at least four of the after-school classes.

As part of Aspire, they also take part in a community activity within the school and undertake an external project qualification — individual research projects which carry an AS level UCAS points.

'They are really valued by universities as they teach them all the skills for under-graduate research,' said Miss Gallie, who said she was delighted at the way the ground-breaking Aspire Project had been received by the students who were successful enough to be accepted on to the scheme.

'They are getting so much out of it,' she said.

College principal Helen Salmon said: 'We are delighted that our college endowment fund is supporting this project.

'This has enabled this group of young people to broaden their horizons and to aim high.'