PRIMARY school children from a number of West Devon schools visited Plymouth University recently as part of a special graduation ceremony to celebrate their learning achievements. Pupils from the Okehampton Learning Community — Lydford, Hatherleigh and South Tawton — joined schools from the Tavistock learning community and other schools across Devon involved in the Devon Children's University, to receive their 'degree' certificates from professor Iain Stewart after completing their out-of-school programmes. Iain, chancellor of the Devon branch, broke from filming his latest BBC programme to lead the ceremony on campus — the second annual graduation since the University launched in 2012. Iain said: 'The Children's University plays an important role in engaging children in the value of life-long learning and opening their eyes and minds to the kinds of opportunities they can experience through education. 'I'm honoured to be the chancellor for the Devon branch and I simply would not have missed the graduation ceremony for anything.' The children, who ranged in ages from seven to fourteen, were fitted for their gowns and then followed the chancellor in a procession. They were addressed by the chancellor, who at one stage demonstrated the techniques for wrestling an alligator. He then presented scrolls and gold badges to the graduating students. Each student had undertaken at least 100 hours of out-of-school learning, with some passing the 200 and 300 hour marks to earn gold certificates and gold diplomas respectively.