A COMPANY has opened its doors to school pupils to give them an insight into the workings of a laboratory.

Isotron hosted a student educational day and invited pupils from Swindon Academy to take a tour of its site.

The two-day event provided sixth-form students with a tour of the company’s gamma site in Swindon and microbiological laboratories in South Marston as well as providing presentations from key personnel.

During the open day the students were able to see first hand how what they had learnt in the classroom was used in industry.

They were also able to meet the teams running the laboratory and gamma site with the opportunity to put questions to them about the work they do.

Andraea Parker, science curriculum leader for Swindon Academy, said: “It helps the students to see where the science they learn in the class room fits in.

“When you do science in schools it is just that, but with days like this it is a bit more interesting and a bit more in depth.

“It is nice to make links with the community and give the students an insight of how industry works.

“I was always interested in science but if my peers had a similar opportunity to this, maybe they would have been as well.”

Lauren Walsh, a pupil at Swindon Academy, said: “We have had the chance to see a lot of different procedures.

“It’s good to look at how the company works and you have a rough idea of what it would be like working in the job.”

Jenni Hollinsworth, marketing communications manager at Isotron, said: “The student day is an example of the company’s ongoing commitment to education and supporting the local community.

“This opportunity is a great way of giving the students an insight into the processes involved in our organisation. “We try to do a lot of work with the schools because they’re going to be the employees in the industry in the future. “The feedback we have received so far has been really positive.”