Children signing up to be part of the new Dorset Children’s University in Christchurch will also have a chance to win a Nintendo wii by taking part in a quiz trail round the town.

The new organisation, which is one of a growing number of Children’s Universities in the UK, will validate the learning that children undertake outside of school hours.

Children aged between 7 and 14 can sign up to participate in the University in the upstairs room at Christchurch Library in the High Street from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 6 March.

For a membership fee of £5 they will be given a Passport to Learning in which they can annotate and have verified the hours of activities and learning they have undertaken outside of school hours. After ten hours of learning they will get a certificate, after 30 hours they receive a Bronze Award, with Silver and Gold Awards coming after 65 and 100 hours respectively.

The activities the children undertake can take place in a number of ‘Learning Destinations’ which could include clubs at schools, museums, sports venues or many other places.

Every year a ‘graduation’ ceremony will be held to present these awards to give the children a real sense of achievement.

Jae Harris, local manager of the University, said: “The University will provide greater opportunities for children to learn and shows them that learning isn’t just something that happens at school. It brings a fun and exciting element to learning.

”We hope that children will come along and sign up to be part of this exciting new initiative. We will also be holding a free quiz trail during the day for children to go round the town finding the answers to questions about Christchurch from clues they will find at various venues. All correct entries will be put into a prize draw to win a Nintendo wii.”

Further information about Dorset Children’s University is available from Jae Harris at The Grange School on 01202 486536, mobile 07785 935928 or email j.harris@grange.dorset.sch.uk.