AN Alcester school has been given a prestigious award for its work teaching children about farming and the countryside.

Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, St Faith's Road, received a bronze award from national educational organisation Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF).

During the past year, the school has teamed up with Oversley Hill Farm and Forest, where farmer Amy Bates taught pupils about her animals, what is growing in fields around them and helped them better understand where their food comes from.

The school has also held a harvest festival, gardening competitions and interactive workshops.

Classes also paid weekly visits to the Heart of England Forest outdoor learning facility at Middle Spernal Farm, Warwickshire.

Children in years four and five also took part in a 'chef on the farm' event at Mount Pleasant School Farm, Icknield Street, where they learnt how to cook healthy meals, and were given an insight into food production.

It has all led to LEAF now naming them as a 'demonstration school'.

Headteacher, Maggie Gourlay, said: "We are so proud to be awarded the status of demonstration school.

"It is a fitting endorsement of what we are trying to achieve at Our Lady's.

"This alliance with LEAF Education has helped enrich the children's appreciation of local farming and respect for the environment."