A SOUTHAMPTON special school has achieved an Artsmark Gold award for its outstanding arts provision including drama, music, design, literature, dance and sculpture.

Great Oaks School, catering for pupils with complex learning difficulties, has organised a number of arts activities during the last year.

These have included working with a local sculptor, performing in the Global Rock Challenge at Southampton Guildhall, joining in African drumming workshops and film-making sessions.

Headteacher Andy Evans said: "Although pupils at the school may struggle academically they often find the arts an area where they can work at their own pace and compete on equal terms with pupils who don't have disabilities."

Great Oaks is a new school that has seen pupils with severe learning difficulties from the former Ridgeway House school join pupils from Red Lodge School.