A POPLEY school is celebrating after becoming the first infant school in Hampshire to receive an award for its involvement with the community.

The coveted national Schools Curriculum Award was given to Merton Infant School in recognition of the activities it organises to bring the school and residents in the community together.

Two assessors recently visited the school to see if it qualified for the award. They heard about efforts to involve the playgroup, which is on the site of the school, in events, and the school's links with St Gabriel's Church.

Other activities, such as parental support, a chess club and sewing and reading sessions, all went in Merton's favour, making it one of only three schools in Hampshire to qualify for the award.

Headteacher Lynn Clement said: "Involving the community is something I firmly believe in."

She added: "Although the school faces many of the same pressures confronting other schools, we found it invaluable to list the many ways in which our pupils' learning is directly or indirectly enhanced by our partnership with so many different individuals and organisations in the outside world."

Two pupils and two adults from the school have been invited to join representatives from the other 251 schools when the awards are presented on Tuesday, June 11 at the Tate Modern in London. The Duke of Gloucester will be the special guest of honour and will meet and congratulate representatives from the winning schools.