PUPILS at the Sir John Colfox School got a chance to learn a bit of natural science and conquer their fears about snakes and spiders – with real live tarantulas and a boa constrictor.

The Year 7 and 10 students were enjoying the Bridport school’s way of marking National Science and Engineering week with the visit of a mobile zoo.

Robin James of Tropical Inc mesmerised the children with his barrage of weird and wonderful facts about the animals he brought with him.

Science teacher Dr Joanna Clare said the youngsters thoroughly enjoyed the day learning about the animals' habitats and the adaptations they have to make to survive the environments they live in.

“It’s a way of engaging the children in science without them realising it and we hope we can do it again in the future. And it was a way to mark the week.

“Robin brought all sorts of animals - a kookaburra, a skunk, a boa constrictor and a corn snake, some lizards, a terrapin and tarantulas.

“He was getting kids up to overcome their fear of spiders which was very brave.

“One of the science department’s aims is to try and make it fun. It definitely isn’t something that happens every day in a science lesson.

“The children loved it. They were really enthusiastic. By the end of the day they were offering Robin a job and asking him back again next year.”

Dr Clare said there were desert and rain forest snakes and pupils got a first hand look at how they coped with where they live.

She said Robin came out with lots of weird and wonderful facts and gave pupils a sense of evolution.