READERS of a recent edition of the Andover Advertiser will have seen photos of pupils from Andover schools dressed in mortar boards and gowns to celebrate their junior graduation.

Back in 2008 Test Valley Borough Council and the University of Winchester embarked on an innovative project to help raise the educational aspirations of children as they move from primary to secondary school.

As a result the junior graduation ceremony was born.

It has proved a huge success with local schools, children and parents and has flourished ever since.

We would like to encourage former pupils from Knights Enham and Portway junior schools, who attended the first pilot junior graduation ceremony in 2008 and plan to start university in September 2015, to get in touch with us to share their story.

These stories will help us to inspire others to continue their learning into the future by considering higher education, apprenticeships or an apprenticeship combined with degree-level study at university.

We wish all the pupils who took part in this year’s junior graduation ceremony success as they move to secondary school.

Councillor Ian Carr, leader of Test Valley Borough Council, and Professor Joy Carter DL, vice-chancellor, University of Winchester.