Mortar boards and gowns were the order of the day when 100 bright young things graduated at Bradford's Children's University.

Pupils at Bradford and Keighley primary schools were honoured for their efforts at a ceremony yesterday.

The Children's University, in Great Horton Road, is attached to the University of Bradford and aims to raise aspirations of primary pupils by helping schools organise extra-curricular activities.

To graduate, pupils must complete ten hours of modules in areas such as construction, telecommunications, digital music and business and regeneration.

The Children's University, part of a national project, was started in Bradford in 2004 to get eight-to-13-year-olds inspired by science, maths, engineering and technology.

It receives funding from the University, Bradford Council, Bradford Vision and the Learning and Skills Council and works with more than 70 district primary schools, bringing experts into the classroom to inspire pupils.

In 2006, the Children's University was chosen by the Victoria Space Centre in Melbourne and the European Space Agency to develop learning materials connected to a space mission.

Sophia Khan, Bradford's Children's University co-ordinator, said: "Learning is a lifelong process but at the Children's University we want to try to make learning fun. We work with children of all abilities and backgrounds to try to raise their aspirations from an early age."

The graduates included Bradley Wakefield, 12, a pupil at Salt Grammar School, Shipley, who received a certificate for his participation in a gadget club.

He said: "It's quite important because learning is the key to success and the more you learn the better you become.

"I hope the gadget club will help towards my future. We have learned quite a bit over the last few weeks and I have really enjoyed it."

His schoolmate and fellow gadget club member, Matthew Robinson, 12, said: "After-school activities get you out into the open and give you good exercise. And you meet new friends."

Heaton Primary School pupil, Andleeb Hanif, nine, received a certificate for helping build a playground sculpture out of twigs. "I was really happy to get the certificate. I'm going to give it to my mum," she said.

Schools involved on the day were: Lister Primary, Heaton Primary, High Fernley Primary, Hill Top CE Primary and Parkland Primary, all in Bradford; Salt Grammar and Shipley CE Primary; and Eastwood Primary, Oldfield Primary and Oakworth Primary all in Keighley.