Three tours today of school children visiting the university.

The first lot I showed round were 16 years old, the next lot 15, the final lot 14.

It was both interesting and shocking to see how they behaved and how increasingly rambunctious they became the younger they were.

I quickly realized that most of my 'set text' just didn't work and I had to engage them at a completely different level.

My biggest mistake the first time was standing in the atrium saying we were going up to the 3rd floor - and just as I would for any tour group offered the elevator for those who needed it. Of course they all *needed* it. So as they piled into the elevator I realized I'd better go too. Just as I got in and the doors closed it dawned on me that a) my entire group were girls; b) this was our flakiest lift in the building and prone to breaking down at a moment's notice.

Fortunately we made it to the third floor in short order but it wasn't a mistake I repeated!