NOVA Hreod Academy has turned a disused piece of land into an outdoor classroom with the help of volunteers from a West Swindon employer.

Arval UK has been partnering with the academy for just over a year to help students with interview skills, CV writing, and work experience placements.

To mark the one-year anniversary of the partnership, volunteers from the company's senior leadership team got to work making raised beds and renovating storage and composting facilities.

A group of students will use the space to sow, plant and harvest their own crops as part of the academy’s SuperNova programme, which is designed to help students try new interests and experiences.

The project will develop students’ teamwork, planning, enterprise and cookery skills.

Nova Hreod Academy’s headteacher Nick Wells said: "We are extremely grateful to Arval for help with this new project and their ongoing support of the academy.

"Nova students have already benefited greatly from Arval’s involvement and the partnership has provided some welcome opportunities for our students.

"We are looking forward to reaping the rewards from look forward to the partnership continuing to bring benefits for our students."

Ailsa Firth, Arval's HR director, said: “We are very proud of our close partnership with Nova Hreod Academy as part of our Arval Inspires community programme.

"We’ve made great progress working together in the past year and feel we have been able to make a tangible difference in preparing students for life in employment."

"We thoroughly enjoyed marking our one year anniversary with a day developing this outdoor space for the students. "