HIGH-flying pupils at one Worcester school are getting a little extra help thanks to students at the University of Worcester.

Children at Elgar Technology College who are targeting a minimum of five A* to C GCSE grades are identified at the end of Year 10 (age 15) to give them support to improve still further.

The school has become involved in the Aim Higher project with the city's university, run by the National Mentoring Programme.

The university trains students to become mentors to secondary school students such as those at the Bilford Road college.

Each mentor at Elgar is assigned up to five pupils who have similar interests and who they meet on a one-to-one basis for half an hour each week for 12 weeks.

Claire Hinton, the school's head of art and co-ordinator of the intervention project, said it allowed pupils to discuss achievements, set targets, combat worries and exam anxiety and consider revision techniques.

Ms Hinton said: "Last year we had six mentors. This year, due to the success of the scheme, we have 10, which means that we can provide support for many more of the school's students.

"There are currently 43 students working with mentors as part of the Aim Higher Project at Elgar.

"In addition to this there are great provisions and support for gifted and talented students and those who are currently borderline C/D target grade students."

The pupils' families are given termly reports on progress in the project.

The school has found that regular contact with a university student gives the children greater encouragement for them to go into further and higher education.

"The Aim Higher project provides students with an excellent opportunity to realise their full potential," added Ms Hinton.

"The success of the scheme at Elgar has led us to be invited to travel to Swansea in March with seven students, to take part in the filming of a Mentor Training DVD which will be used in schools and universities around the country."