School delighted with labs -worthy of 21st Century'

Two science laboratories have been unveiled at St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, in Lanchester.

They will be used by students when they return after the Easter holidays.

The science facilities replace two former labs, which will now become part of the school's reception and staff area.

Headteacher Maureen Bates is delighted with the new labs and said the work had been done with very little disruption to the pupils and their studies.

She said: "The labs are absolutely beautiful. We have a course called 21st Century science, and now we've got labs worthy of the 21st Century.

"We have seen the work grow and develop over a period of months, but most of the attention has been on the sixth form block, so it's very exciting to see what has been completed here.

"It's a testament to architects, B3 Burgess, and builders, Walter Thompson, that the work hasn't affected the rest of the school at all, and I want to say thank you to them for what they've done and how they've done it.

"This is the first milestone on the way to completing a very important building programme."

The laboratories and the sixth form centre, which is still under construction, are being built with the help of a £500,000 donation from the charitable trust of Lanchester-based businessman, Sir Tom Cowie.

The building work, which is in five phases, began last summer.

The new Sir Tom Cowie Sixth Form Centre is expected to be finished by September.

Other work includes converting the staff and reception area to be used by organisations to help students make choices about their futures, such as Inclusion and Connexions.

Father Joe Park, who is also a governor and chairman of the finance committee, said: "This is one of the major developments we have had in recent years, and it is very important for the people of Derwentside.

"The young people need all the support we can give them, to achieve a better way of life for themselves, and that in turn will benefit the community."