A report into a scientific learning opportunity at one of the county's top science parks has revealed more than 200 school children have benefited from its facilities.

Discovery Park in Sandwich relaunched its Community Lab last year with the aim of encouraging children to pursue scientific careers and to grow the local STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) skills base.

It is a collaboration between academia and industry led by Canterbury Christ Church University and Pfizer.

It its impact report, published this week, the Community Lab has run 19 sessions for teachers and students, trained four groups and won an award from the UK Science Park Association.

To help local children develop their science capital further, plans to include new biology activities and to involve younger children are in development.

Mayer Schreiber, CEO of Discovery Park, said: ‘The Community Lab is part of our commitment to help maintain and grow the local scientific skills base, and this first Impact Report shows the real progress being made.

"As the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy Update, launched last week, says, 'no life sciences sector can develop and thrive without the right high-quality skills'.

"We thank all our partners for their support and work towards building this workforce of the future."

Sue Chandler, cabinet member for integrated children's services at Kent County Council, said: "The impact report published today shows just how well the Community Lab is succeeding in its objective to excite and inspire local students about science. It's great to see this partnership of schools, industry and academia working so effectively together to help build a skilled workforce."

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