PUPILS from schools around Trowbridge were given an interstellar experience on Friday as they came together to design a space gym suitable for Wiltshire astronaut Tim Peake.

Organised by John of Gaunt School, the day was part of the school’s STEM Club which encourages youngsters to get into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education. It currently has 20 members.

Pupils also welcomed space ambassador Paul Hill of ESERO – the European Space Education Resource Office.

The idea was the brainchild of Hannah Eaton, the STEM Club Coordinator at the school who said the day was a huge success.

“I saw a notice from ESERO who were offering grants and funding to people to put on events and so we came up with the idea of including Year 5 primary school pupils so that it would be a day where we would be working together,” she added.

“In space there isn’t any gravity obviously and astronauts lose muscle mass and bone density and so they have gym equipment on the International Space Station so they can do exercise. That was what gave me the idea for it because Tim was running the London marathon on a treadmill in space and I had done the Brighton marathon a week before.

“We were able to get a space ambassador in from ESERO and he came in and brought in a replica space suit and the kids had a lot of fun trying that one.”

Pupils from The Grove Primary, North Bradley Primary, Holt Primary, Castle Mead School, The Mead School and Staverton Primary were involved on the day and were put into teams of six to design a piece of gym equipment. The kids then had to build it and present their idea.

Mrs Eaton, who has worked at the school for eight years, added: “The whole day was great because it gave the pupils reason behind the science. It was exciting to learn about how science can be applied and it brought the abstractness of space back down to earth.

“We are doing lots of work with the STEM club to make it more community focussed and we are hoping continue that relationship we have with the primary school.”