NEW school laboratories have been opened by children's TV science presenter Johnny Ball.
The father of radio DJ Zoe Ball unveiled the £250,000 facilities at Pennywell School, in Sunderland.
After giving the youngsters a short science lesson, he said: "I sit with them and try to do a few things that the teacher can't because they see them all the time.
"Generally, schools get better facilities than there were in my day.''
Heather Scott, the school's assistant head and science manager, said: "We are very excited about our new laboratories and thought Johnny Ball's infectious enthusiasm for the subject would be ideal to open them. We plan a fun, informative and invigorating week involving everything from fizzy fun workshops to coming face to face with a tarantula.
"With the help of Sunderland University and a series of guest speakers, plus a full programme of activities, we'll certainly be living up to our new motto - labs are fab."
Sunderland City Council education director Barbara Comiskey said: "It's so good to have the excellent new facilities at Pennywell. We hope that they'll come to show the same lifelong enthusiasm that Johnny Ball shows for the subject."
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