High school pupils were given a taste of university life this week with a chance to learn why learning languages matters so much.

The students, from Westhoughton High School which teaches youngsters between the ages of 11 and 16, spent a day  at Lancaster University, specifically to visit the Department for Languages and Culture.

They also had the chance to tour the campus and see for themselves what university life has to offer at an institution that is rated as amongst the top 15 in the UK, according to the three major league tables.

A spokesman for Westhoughton High School said: “Forty-eight students attended a trip to Lancaster University and visited the department for Languages and Culture.

“The students listened to a lecture about why learning languages is important, ate their lunch on one of social areas and had a tour of the campus.

“They asked lots of interesting questions about university life and had a great afternoon.”

The school will hope that trips like these instil an interest in languages as well as higher education more broadly amongst its students.