Top marks for special school

overshadowed a host of mainstream schools by picking up a prestigious national science award.

Oak Lodge School, in Dibden Purlieu, is celebrating after being a runner-up in the National Science Plus awards, open to students from any entry level exam course in science from around the UK.

The task set before the team from the Roman Road school was how best to tackle erosion in the New Forest.

Digital cameras and computers were used to present their findings, and their explorations of the Kings Hat, Dibden, and Applemore Inclosures were captured on video.

Technology manager and science teacher Cliff Lewis said: "The pupils worked amazingly well as a team and were concerned that their findings were a fair test.

"We had some enjoyable if wet days out in the Forest."

One pupil, 16-year-old Robert Ward, from New Milton, said: "The competition was very interesting and I would like to do it again."

The team will receive their award at a special London reception held by publishers Harper Collins tomorrow.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.