A school unveiled a new £1.2 million extension of its science block today, in the hope more students continue to take up the subject.

Forest School’s state-of-the-art science block extension has been a year in the making and boasts six new laboratories and two technician rooms.

It was officially opened today (Friday April 29) by MP for Chingford and Woodford Green Iain Duncan Smith who was given a tour of the new block by Forest pupils.

He said: “Although I didn’t study it to a high level myself, I have always found science fascinating, and the facility here looks fantastic and is clearly going to enhance students’ learning.

“It’s good to see more girls taking up the subject, as more female scientists and engineers is something our society really needs.

“If this facility means that just 10 per cent of students here take biology, chemistry or physics to a higher level, it will have been a major success.”

He added: "It’s a real privilege to visit a school that has been such a feature of the community for such a long, long time, and one that is investing hugely in science."

Forest School’s warden Antony Faccinello said the main reason for building the extension was the significant increase in students studying the sciences at A Level.

He said: “Forest was one of the first schools who really realised science’s importance in the curriculum and invested it in a big way.

“Back in the 1950s our head teacher Gerald Cedar Miller was one of a small group who worked hard to make sure we had science facilities and it stayed an integral part of our studies.”

The new block in College Place, Snaresbrook will cater for over 1,300 pupils, as well as a number of non-Foresters during events like the annual junior science competition, which brings together 24 primary schools from the area.

Head girl 18-year-old Alex Bush said: “Although I’m not studying science myself, a lot of my friends are going to really benefit from the new facilities.

“Boys have always been seen as the scientists, but with our new resources hopefully girls will feel like they can really get involved too.”

Warden Mr Faccinello added it has already been a good term for Forest School’s science legacy so far, with Forest alumni Dr Chris Venditti making a key discovery about the extinction of dinosaurs at Reading University.