Rockets were blasting off from the immaculate lawns of Gonville & Caius this morning as children from local primary schools dropped in for a taste of university study.

Thirty-nine year six pupils from Colville and Great Abington primary schools created their own model rockets from rolled paper and sticky tape, cheering as they soared above the courts, powered by compressed air.

After having lunch served to them in Caius’ magnificent dining Hall, watched over by portraits of Professor Stephen Hawking and other Fellows of the College, the children moved on to the Library, where they explored the symbolism in the Gonville & Caius College crest.

The Primary Day was jointly organised by the College and the Perse Upper School as part of the school’s 400th anniversary celebrations. The Perse is strongly linked to Caius as its founder, Stephen Perse, was a student and Fellow of the College.

The Master of Caius, Professor Sir Alan Fersht, was keen to mark the anniversary with an event at Caius for children. The Perse invited pupils from local primaries where its students already volunteer as reading and maths helpers, and the Perse/Caius Primary Day was born.

Perse Deputy Head Sarah Richardson said: “The College’s outreach work usually focuses on older children, but research is increasingly showing that it is actually younger children whose interest and enthusiasm need to be harnessed to encourage them to go on and pursue university study.

“That’s why we chose to bring year six pupils into the College, giving them a flavour of the excitement of engineering and history courses, as well as the chance to enjoy lunch in Hall and explore the beautiful Caius courts.”

Professor Fersht welcomed pupils at the start of the day, telling them about Stephen Perse and his legacy. Then it was on to the rocket-building exercise (which ended in several paper rockets lodged on the Chapel roof after reaching spectacular heights), organised by Maria Kettle, outreach officer for the University’s Department of Engineering.

Caius archivist James Cox and assistants Alison Mable and Alex Howell led the session explaining the heraldic imagery on the Gonville & Caius crest, with its scallop shells and twined serpents, and encouraged pupils to design their own symbolic family shield.

The day ended with a treasure hunt around the College, with youngsters challenged to search out the location of Professor Hawking’s study,  count the many chimney pots in Caius court and discover the charity supported by the donation box in the Chapel. Perse students  gave their time to lead groups of children throughout the day.

Andrew Hastings, headteacher of Colville Primary, said the event was a way to raise pupils’ aspirations. “It’s about giving the children an understanding of the opportunities that are around and lifting their aspirations for later in life.

“It hopefully takes out that little bit of mystery about education and opportunities. I just want to make sure they don’t not choose something because they don’t know about it.”

Pupils said they had enjoyed the whole day. Colville pupil Millie, 11, said: “The College was so open to us and so pretty, with all the courtyards.”

Classmate Sharen, also 11, said: “The activities were really fun, and I liked the lunch in the Hall. I thought Caius would look more like a proper modern college, but it looked much more traditional. I think I want to go on to study somewhere like this.”