Students at Kingsdown School put their artistic skills to the test by taking part in a Jubilee drip mat competition with the brewery next door.

Arkell's wants to celebrate in style and will be sending a barrel of its new Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Ale to each of its pubs along with the drip mats and metres of bunting.

The Stratton-based brewery chose to involve local students in the process.

The special extended bank holiday weekend provides an opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate the historic milestone of the Queen becoming the first British Monarch to celebrate 70 years of service.

Kingsdown headteacher Emma Leigh-Bennett encouraged students across all the year groups to design the drip mat for the local brewery’s competition.

A total of 85 entries were presented to Mrs Leigh-Bennett and then whittled down to 10 to be presented to brewery chairman James Arkell. 

Mr Arkell selected two favourite designs and more than 50,000 drip mats have been printed so far featuring them. 

"The students all put great thought into their designs, but one that stood out was a colourful regal design cleverly covering all the aspects of the Royal Jubilee, with dates and honouring the Queen’s great achievement, the other was a youthful interpretation encompassing the brewery and the crown," he said.

Armed with a bundle of the drip mats that have been produced, managing director George Arkell and head brewer Alex Arkell visited the school to congratulate the winning students and present them with their prize - a voucher for a family meal at The Kingsdown Inn.

The delighted winners were Year 8 pupils Will Fawkes and Harry Chase.

Mrs Leigh-Bennett said: "We are so proud of our students at Kingsdown School. 

"Each and every student truly enjoys our expressive and performing arts curriculum at Kingsdown and developing their creative skills.  Students at Kingsdown love a challenge and we were delighted to see so many students take part in the Arkell’s family brewery competition.

"Kingsdown School is looking forward to developing further links with businesses in our local community. We are so proud of our students, the skills they have and are developing as well as what they can offer our great town."