A group of youngsters faced their fears as they flew through the air on a flying trapeze over three metres high, learnt how to juggle and even formed a human pyramid.

The 10 and 11-year olds faced their fears at the newly-named National Centre for Circus Arts in Coronet Street, Hoxton, as part of a confidence-building workshop organised by education-business partnership Inspire!’s Families First project.

The idea is to support them in their move up to secondary school, and every activity was designed to enable the children to interact with each other, build self-esteem and develop team work skills.

Karolina Piatkiewicz, from Southwold Primary School in Upper Clapton said: “When I was flying up high, my first thoughts were: I can’t do it, put me on the mat and I was scared.

“However, after I was flying it was a pleasure to me - but not everyone - but they all tried, therefore it’s important.”