SCIENTISTS, lawyers and an Oxford Mail journalist joined forces with police officers, academics and journalists to inspire schoolchildren.

Youngsters were encouraged to reach for the stars as part of a project at Bayards Hill Primary School, on Oxford's Barton estate, to get pupils to aim high in their future careers.

Classes from Year 6 all the way down to Year 1 were visited by representatives of different careers and walks of life – and even different countries – to talk about what jobs they did... and why.

Teacher Paul Waite said the Aim High Day event was a 'fantastic success'.

He added: "We have a theme each term and this term was aim high.

"A lot children at primary school start to express interests in the wider world and of what they are going to do in the future. I think it's been a fantastic success.

"It ticked all the boxes."

Mr Waite said the school tried to 'harvest' the interests of the children by getting people from all walks of life to come and talk about their jobs.

He added the event would allow pupils to visualise how the speakers – who ranged from professors to paediatric audiologists – found their respective roles.

Kristina Masih, a personal assistant at Oxford University's Wycliffe Hall, spoke to pupils in Year 1 and Year 2.

She said: "The children are terrific. I talked to them about their favourite celebrities because all their favourite celebrities have a PA and sometimes they get to travel the world.

"I have been able to meet the Queen and James Bond, and they were fascinated by that.

"It's a terrific event. It engages them to be open minded and see all the opportunities.

"It's about making them think what is good for them.

"What are their talents, what are their skills and what makes them happy, and for them to find that thing whatever it is.

"It's really valuable."

Other professionals included an RAF Corporal, a lawyer and film producer.

The talks, which lasted 15 minutes each, included games, presentations and a question and answer session with pupils having to guess the speakers profession – which was easier for some rather than others.

Paediatric audiologist Heather Gilpin, who diagnoses children and babies who may have hearing problems, got the children to try the equipment she uses to carry out tests.

She said she hoped the day could be replicated at her daughter's school in Headington.