The unique experience was one of several activities organised for the young people as part of the University's week-long residential Aimhigher summer school.

The summer school, which took place from Monday 7 July to Friday 11 July 2008, gives local teenagers the chance to sample university life. From lectures to careers advice, sport to social activities, the youngsters are given a rounded university experience and even get to stay the week in the University's halls of residence.

This year's packed programme saw fourteen different departments from the University offer more than 20 different activities. These included: getting to grips with polymer slime in the Department of Chemistry; learning clinical skills in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; talking ethics in the Department of Archaeology and learning to fly in the Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering's flight simulator.

As part of the week, the students also visited the University's Advanced Manufacturing Research Park (AMRC) and spent time at local businesses, including Thompsons Solicitors, CODA Architects and the Crown Prosecution Service. The teenagers also worked with current Sheffield students, took part in team building outdoor events and spent time getting to know each other in social activities such as pub style quizzes, bowling and karaoke.

Caroline Knight, Outreach Officer at the University of Sheffield, said:

"The summer school has been running for many years and every year it gets bigger and better, with more departments and employees getting involved. It is often very daunting for students starting university and living away from home for the first time. The aim of the school is to give young people a taster of university and show them that it offers a host of opportunities, from the academic subjects available to the social activities on offer.

She added: "The students had a great time this year and it was lovely to see so many friendships formed and young people who didn't want to leave because they enjoyed it so much."

Safia Malik, a second year law student who was a student ambassador at this year's summer school, remembers coming to the summer school in 2003 when she was a pupil at Brinsworth Comprehensive School in Rotherham.

She said:

"The summer school is a great opportunity for teenagers to find out more about the University, what the city has to offer and to make new friends. I came to the summer school in 2003 and was so impressed with it that I decided I wanted to study here. I was so pleased when I got in and was delighted when I found out a friend I met on the summer school had got in too. It was the best decision I ever made coming to Sheffield, which is why I was so enthusiastic about helping out with the summer school this year."

Charlotte Lilley, from Stocksbridge High School, who took part in the summer school, said: "I really enjoyed the summer school, especially the visit to Thompsons Solicitors. I learnt really interesting facts about the firm and the different jobs within it. I also learnt a lot about what you can do after a law degree."