Staff and pupils at Ashley Hill School are celebrating after supermarket shoppers voted them as the winner in an in-store community project competition.

Ashley Hill can now go ahead with its plans to create learning zones in the grounds of the school.

Tesco this week handed a cheque for £5,000 to the school’s head boy and girl, and head teacher Peter Lewis.

The money was provided as part of Tesco’s ’Bags of Help’ scheme, where community projects can bid for a grant. The top three bids entered a competition in-store where customers placed a blue token into the project they feel most deserving.

Mr Lewis said: ’We are delighted to have come out on top and thank all customers for their support.

’Our aim is to create learning zones in our wonderful grounds, enabling us to maximise the learning potential in the outdoor environment.’

He explained that the learning zones will include some wooden posts, platforms and quarry stones at the rear of the school for children to enjoy during break and lunch times and encourage classes to do problem-solving activities.

Mr Lewis added: ’Towards the front of the school, we hope to erect a shed which will help staff take learning outdoors.

’The aim is to stock the shed with outdoor equipment, such as scientific resources for example. We aim to start the project as soon as possible.’