It was a day for Masterclasses yesterday, as all of the students prepared for the fun of a practical afternoon. The day began with breakfast, and everyone headed to the dining room to have their meal together.

Once breakfast was over, it was time for morning lessons which got off to a good start. Students have now begun their programmes in earnest, and it was time for the teachers to begin challenging them with the material for their course. It was brilliant to see the group getting engaged as they started to immerse themselves in the content of their programmes.

Following a busy morning, it was time for a quick lunch before the afternoon’s Masterclasses were to begin. There was a choice between two exciting activities, one was a CSI crash course and the other, an architecture workshop. Both promised to offer the students an insight into the intricacies of this profession.

The CSI Masterclass was particularly popular, as students investigated the murder of Jonathan Buckley. This was really an opportunity to experience a day in the life of a forensic scientist as the students tested fingerprints, blood, DNA and ballistics. They also became fingerprint experts and used a facial identification software used by the FBI. Once they had completed the forensic profile, they had to provide evidence of the motive, as well as identifying the murderer and murder weapon.

In the architecture Masterclass, students tested their building abilities as they were challenged by the leader to create structures from poles and elastic bands. This was an excellent test of teamwork, however it also provided essential knowledge on how to maintain a solid building structure. Overall, it was a busy and enjoyable afternoon, as students bonded over their tasks. The evening ended with a relaxed movie night and everyone got cosy as the weather outside was a little dreary.