A NINE year old pupil from Corbridge First School has won the regional heat of an art competition which promotes sustainability in schools.

Year four student Frances Weston-Hannah has won £500 for her school and will compete against 1,000 schoolchildren from across the UK to win a £1,500 prize towards a sustainability project.

Frances also won a £20 high street gift voucher.

The initiative promotes healthy living, the importance of the environment and preserving water and other precious resources to primary school age children through an annual themed art competition.

Pupils aged seven to nine years had to go on a scavenger hunt in their local area and create a collage of a forest or woodland scene with their findings.

Year three children spent time at the riverside in Corbridge and Year four went to Matfen Woods to scavenge for different leaves, twigs, sticks, feathers and other materials they could use.

Grace Beresford, Year Four teaching assistant at Corbridge First School said: “The children were really engaged and enjoyed working on the topic very much. Forest School activities are very popular. We are really proud of Frances’ achievements and we’ll use the money to further benefit the children’s education.”

Hayley Slack, sponsor John Davidson Pipe’s marketing and communications co-ordinator, said: “Outdoor learning is a vital part of the curriculum and encourages pupils to learn through adventure and interaction with nature. The variety of entries we’ve had demonstrates a strong sense of creativity, use of colour and good imagination, leading to the creation of some fantastic collages.”