Meteor Celebration of Achievement Ceremonies

Media Invitation Friday 14 July Middlesbrough Town Hall

First ceremony: Procession of 250 children will leave the University Main Hall at 9.40am to walk down Albert Road in their red Meteor T-shirts. The police will stop the traffic.

Second ceremony: Begins at 1pm at Middlesbrough Town Hall

Nearly 500 primary children from 11 Middlesbrough schools will receive their University of Teesside Meteor Awards at Middlesbrough Town Hall following a two-week long summer school for 10 and 11 year olds on campus. The Celebration of Achievement Awards are in recognition of a year of work on the Meteor Programme by the children with University staff and students.

Five new schools have been signed up to the successful aspirational Meteor programme since last year. In addition to Abingdon, Ayresome Junior, Breckon Hill, Newport, Sacred Heart RC and St Joseph's RC the five new primary schools are Brambles, Caldicotes , North Ormesby, St Alphonsus' RC and Thorntree .

Professor Derek Fraser, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Teesside will preside over the ceremonies and will welcome Middlesbrough's Mayor, Councillor Kath Bevington to the first ceremony. Teachers from the schools, University student mentors and organisations including the army, Cleveland Arts, Cleveland Constabulary, One NorthEast and BT plc will also attend the ceremonies and be acknowledged for their contributions to a very successful programme.

David Littlefair, Schools and Community Liaison at the University said: "Meteor goes from strength to strength. We're delighted to have been able to expand the programme this year to include a wider catchment of pupils. Full credit must go to the University staff, student mentors and the teachers from each of the participating schools who have demonstrated such marvellous enthusiasm, patience and support."

For some of the schoolchildren it's the first time they will have been to the Town Hall. Amy Maxwell, 11 from Brambles Primary said: "I'm really excited about the ceremony. I've never been in the town hall and I'm a bit nervous." Michael Hayton, 11 from Sacred Heart School said: "The last time I was at the Town Hall it was at a Steps concert so it'll be a bit different I expect on Friday. The Meteor T-shirts are good, because they're the same colour as the Boro but mine touches my knees so I have to tuck it in!"

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