TESTBOURNE Community School in Whitchurch has been awarded £10,000 from Barclays New Futures 2003.

The money, part of the company's education sponsorship scheme, will be used to set up a community music project with their five main partner schools - Whitchurch Primary, Overton Primary, Longparish Primary, Barton Stacey Primary and St Mary Bourne Primary.

Senior pupils at the school will work with the head of music to organise a community music ensemble.

Pupils from the different primary schools will work and practise together to provide enjoyment and activities for other sectors of the community.

Headteacher Hilary Jackson said: "We will forge closer links between our schools and the community, using music as a means to do this.

"We are in a semi-rural location, which means people and organisations can become quite isolated. We see the project as a means of bringing together across the age ranges, bridging gaps between schools, villages and generations." Alice Wilcock, head of community affairs at Barclays PLC, added: "Barclays New Futures has been actively involved in citizenship within schools for the last nine years. The scheme offers opportunities for students to develop their skills through creating, managing and implementing community projects.

"We are continually impressed with the diverse range of issues covered by these projects and we hope the scheme will enable students to gain the required skills to achieve their chosen academic and vocational qualifications."