A TEESSIDE Academy is preparing to boldly go intergalactic to help increase science skills in the classroom.

The King's Academy, in Coulby Newham, has joined the National Space Academy's programme to help teachers use space as a theme in their core subject lesson plans.

Led by the National Space Centre on behalf of the UK Space Agency, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the UK Space Education Office and the European Space Agency, the academy will also be supported by universities, colleges and sponsors.

Head of physics Ian Tippey will be leading the programme for GCSE and A-level students.

He said: "Space captures the imagination of people of all ages and has fascinated me from the age of five when I saw Star Wars at the cinema.

"That started my love of science.

With the help of the National Space Centre programme I hope I can inspire other students."

The space academy will run alongside other space inspired initiatives to improve the skills of students in secondary schools and colleges across the country.