TELEVISION presenter Johnny Ball has helped a secondary school embark upon a new start.

He visited Branksome School, Darlington, yesterday to officially launch the school as a specialist science college.

Only a few years ago, the school was branded as failing and in special measures.

However, since it was taken out of special measures in 2006, it has completed a remarkable turnaround.

Community leaders praised the way in which the management and staff at the school have reversed its decline.

Darlington borough councillor Jenny Chapman, the ward member for Branksome and the cabinet member responsible for children and young people, said she was delighted at the school’s success.

She said: “It has been in special measures and turned itself around and had some good results. It deserves a celebration for the achievement of getting science status.

“It marks a new start for Branksome and it is great to have Johnny Ball there to share the moment – I was a real fan of his as a kid.

“They have got some good kids there and good staff and they have had to work really hard. The challenge is now to keep on building on this and carry on the good work.

“Branksome is part of our Building Schools for the Future bid and if they can get that, it will be the icing on the cake.”

Mr Ball said: “I am so positive about the future of science.

I think our kids should be positive and they won’t be unless they at least get a grounding in science at school.

“That is why I think it is so special having maths and science status. It really energises the whole school to think about the science of the world.

“It enriches their lifestyle and gives them more knowledge than perhaps schools that do not do it.”

In order to achieve the science status, Branksome had to raise £50,000. It was helped with a large donation from building company Bussey and Armstrong.

Using the money that the science status has brought, the school has refurbished three science laboratories.

It is also now able to teach three separate sciences, instead of only a dual award, which helps students who wish to study science at Alevel.

Headteacher Pat Armstrong said: “We have only been running with science status for five weeks, but the children are just amazed.

“The fact that somebody cares about them, it has really made a difference.”