PUPILS from The Chase and Dyson Perrins high schools had a look behind the scenes at QinetiQ in Malvern.

The aim of Monday's visit was to show them the relevance of science in the real world, to interest them in some amazing QinetiQ technologies and to show that a career in science can be very rewarding.

The pupils saw demonstrations including thermal imaging, robot programming, foetal heart monitoring and missile tracking technology.

Annette Smart, of QinetiQ, said: "QinetiQ understands the importance of good-quality science and maths being taught in our schools and universities.

"We're also in a position to explain the very real benefits science and technology can bring to our everyday lives and the career opportunities available to scientists and engineers. Events like this will hopefully inspire more students to pursue science through to a career."

Steve Davies, from Worcestershire County Council, said the day had been a great success.

"I think the pupils were surprised to see how young so many of the scientists were. They were expecting professors with long grey beards," he said.

The event was the first of three planned for all Worcestershire's schools. Both the education authority and QinetiQ hope the initiative will be continued in the future.

Ben White, of QinetiQ, said: "With the number of students taking science and maths at GCSE, A-Level and on to university in decline there's concern that this is potentially damaging for the country as a whole and provides a recruitment issue for QinetiQ specifically. We're very much a people-based organisation and if the pool of scientists, mathematicians and engineers from which we recruit is diminishing then it's something we need to address."