SELBY MP John Grogan has opened two new state-of-the-art labs at a specialist science college in the district.

Sherburn High School, in Sherburn-in-Elmet, near Selby, was awarded specialist science status in 2005.

The £250,000 labs are the latest developments at the school to boost is science teaching.

Head teacher Carl Sugden said: "We've had specialist scientist status since 2005. We get a bit of extra money from the Government to deliver science education and to help other schools in the area with their science teaching.

"We've used most of the money to improve science teaching in the local primary schools. We created a mobile science lab, which contains laptops the children can work on.

"And we spent £250,000 of capital funding to refurbish our science labs. Mr Grogan was good enough to come and open the labs."

The school welcomed back former head teacher Carole Peace and former chair of governors John Lofthouse, who were the driving force behind the school's successful bid to achieve science status.

Mr Sugden stressed that the new facilities were just a part of being a science school.

"Of equal importance are the science exam results, which have placed the school in the top five per cent of schools nationally for two consecutive years," he said.

Opening the labs, Mr Grogan praised the role of the school in delivering high-quality science education to support science and technology employment in the local area.

Mr Grogan said: "Sherburn-in-Elmet has reached another stage in its renewal and expansion of buildings at the school. It's the first of three phases, giving state-of-the-art facilities to students.

"Only last week, the Prime Minister made a speech about the importance of science, saying he wished he'd taken more interest in science as a youngster. It's important not only because of the role it plays in the economy, but because of its importance for civic participation, with issues like climate change moving up the agenda."