PRIMARY school pupils have learnt more about their surroundings thanks to a field trip with the University of Worcester.

Geography lecturers Dr Ian Maddock and Dr Heather Barrett, from the university’s Institute of Science and the Environment, took pupils from Cherry Orchard Primary School, Worcester, on a series of visits across the city.

The field trips included a river walk, a study of urban landscape change in Worcester, a visit to the cathedral and an archaeological tour of the city.

Kieran McCarthy, a teacher at Worcester’s Cherry Orchard Primary School, said: “Primary children are naturally excited and interested in the world around them.

“Like many other schools we are currently reorganising our curriculum to best meet the needs of our pupils in 2009. We are hugely grateful to the university for its support in this work.

“We are sure the initiative will be successful and hope the contact can continue.”

The partnership is the first of many that the university hopes to make with local schools.

Dr Ian Maddock, principal lecturer in physical geography at the university, said: “We are part of the local community and are really keen to work more closely with schools and develop partnerships in the area.

“We’ve been happy to help with this project work and encourage the pupils at Cherry Orchard because fieldwork can really help the subject come alive.”

The university is available to offer help to schools teaching primary, secondary and A-level geography.

Anyone interested can call Dr Alan Dixon on 01905 542175.