A group of Kent pupils came face-to-face with reptiles, exotic birds and insects during a college tour to check out their post-GCSE options.

Canterbury College welcomed 50 Year 10 youngsters from Charles Dickens School, Broadstairs, and treated them to taster lessons in animal care, hairdressing, beauty therapy, engineering and A-level subjects.

Pupils fed the college meerkats and came face-to-face with reptiles, exotic birds and insects during a tour of its animal care department.

The school’s careers and work coordinator, Teresa Schers, said: “It’s really good for them to see alternative post-16 options. They experience what kind of things are out there.”

Mel Francis-Jones, the college’s progression and project officer, said: “It was a lively, exciting event that offered pupils a taste of the wide breadth of subjects we offer.”

Featured image caption: Amber Cameron, 15, gets hairdressing advice from Canterbury College tutor Laura Parsons