With the first week over, ORA pupils at St Andrews have already participated in loads of activities and exciting classes that have amazed and inspired them.

Engineering Field Trip: Dundee Science Centre

Engineering students staying at St Andrews took an excursion in week 1 to the Dundee Science Centre. With the opportunity to try everything from keyhole surgery in the Medical Marvels exhibition to making music at the DJ table in the Music Mayhem exhibition, our students were entertained for hours.

The interactivity of the Dundee Science Centre made the experience even more enjoyable, with students able to touch, manipulate and work with displays and machines to better understand how things work. For our engineering students, this particularly appealed to their desire for logical explanations and solutions, with many of our pupils using the interactive activity points for a great deal of time.

Golf

For those desiring a taste of the traditional up in Scotland, the chance to play golf was a must. Playing by the Old Course, a world-famous golfing site often referred to as the ‘Home of Golf’, pupils were taught how to properly wield a club, putt and enjoy this classic sport.

Some found the pace to be slow but enjoyed practising their technique, whilst others were fascinated by the rules and layout of the game. Despite the independent nature of the sport, our students enjoyed walking around the course and practising in small groups, adding a social element to the afternoon.

Ghost Tour

Ghouls and spectres came to life in St Andrews last week as our brave and fearless pupils embarked on a Ghost Tour of the town. The evening was brisk as students huddled close to protect themselves from the wandering eyes of the local phantoms and ghosts, and the dim street lights only added to the spooky atmosphere.

Some students were as pale as ghosts, whilst others stood eagerly at the front desperate to hear every gory detail. Regardless of individual belief in the supernatural, the tour ensured that all of our students were left wondering ‘could it really be true?’

With the gruesome tales and tormented souls came the physical evidence of these unearthly spirits. The most unnerving and convincing example of spirits came in the form of a misshapen brick bearing resemblance to a human face. Students wearily touched the ghoulish stone, unsure whether they believed the haunting story could actually be true.

Beach

The beach is a popular area with ORA students at St Andrews. With lots of free time throughout the week, our pupils made the most of the gorgeous weather in the UK and played on the stretching sands. The students all lounged on the beach in a circle, ensuring that no one was left out and everyone could laugh and chat together.

Week 1 may be over but we still have so much in store for week 2 at St Andrews. With a trip to the cinema, Masterclasses and a visit to the famous city of Edinburgh, stay tuned to see how our pupils get on in their final week.