Children and staff at a Wednesbury school are celebrating after being given a national award in recognition of their science work.

Mesty Croft Academy, in Friar Park, has been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark at Silver level. The school is one of only 180 to be recognised this month and is among only 2,800 schools in the country to have received this award.
 
The academy was praised by the Primary Science Quality Mark body, who stated that the 'profile and quality of science teaching and learning in each awarded school is very high'. 

Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children's services, was invited to visit Mesty Croft Academy where the children were very enthusiastic about their science lessons. Over the year children have taken part in various science related projects with some of them going to hear astronaut Tim Peake speak at a recent conference. The children have also learnt about floating gardens and the best conditions to grow plants. Councillor Hackett said:

"It was an absolute pleasure to visit Mesty Croft Academy and speak to such enthusiastic children and such a dedicated teacher. I even took part in an experiment where the children examined my tongue to see how sensitive I am to different tastes.
 
"Science is an important subject to teach from an early age and maybe we have some budding astronauts, chemists or doctors at Mesty Croft Academy."
 
Claire Raxworthy-Cooper is the lead teacher for science at the school. She added: "I'm thrilled we have been recognised for our science with this award. The staff and I put a lot of effort into making the lessons interesting and it's great to see the children having fun while learning.
 
"When teaching science we involve the whole school from nursery up to year six and the children really enjoy the interactive lessons and experiments."