ANIMALS are the stars of the show at a Bolton school.

Mice, cockroaches, stick insects, a snake and a bearded dragon are being lovingly cared for by pupils at Bolton School boys’ division biology department.

It is all part of an award-winning initiative set up by science teacher David Teasdale who established an Animal Care Club following the huge success of keeping bee hives on school grounds.

Sixth formers have taken responsibility for the care of a different animals and, under their supervision, year seven pupils clean the tanks and ensure the animals are comfortable.

And as well as showing the boys how to care for different animals, the club also gives them the chance to learn more about their needs and habitats.

Mr Teasdale said: “It’s really taken off, we’ve had good attendance all year.

“ It’s also been beneficial for the animals.

"Our bearded dragon, Dexter, has eye problems but we’ve found that giving her a weekly bath during the club has helped — she’s a lot more active now. I was a bit worried the animals would be stressed by the club activities, but even the mice seem to be quite happy, running around on their wheel right after the club is finished and not hiding.”

The Animal Care Club has been so successful that Mr Teasdale has been invited to give a presentation about it in London next summer in front of teachers from Europe and Canada.

The club has been judged by the UK’s National Steering Committee as one of the country’s best teaching ideas.

Mr Teasdale said that schools are probably reluctant to have animals in school because of the extra work for already “overworked teachers”.

He said:” We have set up our club in such a way that we minimise the involvement of staff and maximise the involvement of students.

“The success of the project has resulted in us being invited, as part of the UK delegation, to the International Science on Stage Festival in London next June. This will allow us to share our model for the club with other schools from within the UK and abroad.

“ Hopefully when other schools see how a small effort can result in such great benefits for the students they will be inspired to give their pupils similar opportunities.”

Mr Teasdale said that club brought lessons literally to life in a way pictures and videos never could.

He said: “That doesn’t come close to seeing the wonder and amazement on a boy’s face when a live snake slithers across his hand for the first time or our bearded dragon rotates her head and fixes her gaze on him.

“ It isn’t enough simply for the boys to get great exam results.

“We want to produce the next generation of biologists. You can’t do that without inspiring the students.

"Opportunities to inspire are what the Animal Care Club provides.”

Hamaad Asad, aged 11, said: “I understand more about the animals and how they do everything, like how the snake sheds its skin.

"I also enjoy looking after them.”