Clevedon School has been chosen to take part in a Rocket Science project to see how plants grow in space.

Rocket Science is an educational programme developed by the UK Space Agency and the school, in Valley Road, will receive a packet of seeds that has spent about six months on the International Space Station which they will grow alongside seeds that have not spent any time in microgravity.

The students, who won’t know which pack has visited space, will measure the differences over a seven-week period and the results will be collected by the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Campaign for School Gardening.

Gavin Smart from the school’s science department said: “We are very excited to be taking part in Rocket Science.

“This experiment is a fantastic way of teaching our students to think more scientifically and share their findings with the whole community.”

It is hoped the project will help students think about the difficulties of growing fresh food in difficult climates and what astronauts need to survive in space.