PUPILS from Aylestone School have been taking part in a new initiative named after a Harry Potter spell.

Lumos is designed to broaden the horizons and widen the aspirations of the most able students, to offer a different perspective on the world and encourage them to think beyond achieving the best exam grades.

It is named after the light-bringing Harry Potter spell and has three main elements.

The first is weekly sessions where the students are challenged to think about subjects outside their usual interests, with topics from philosophy to cutting edge science on the table.

The second element sees experts from various fields such as NMiTE (New Model in Technology & Engineering, Hereford), visit the school and give talks to the students.

The third and final element of Lumos is the opportunity for the pupils to enjoy trips away from the school to open their eyes to the world outside their own.

Aylestone School’s headteacher Simon Robertson said: "Lumos has been a huge success and the students have all really enjoyed the different experiences it has offered them. There has been a really buzz around every element of the Lumos initiative and the weekly sessions hum with discussion as the students tackle new ideas.

"Our goal is to enrich the lives of all our students and this particular initiative is geared towards equipping our most gifted and talented individuals with skills they are likely to need when they move on from our school."