A pupil has taken first prize in a regional art competition.

The young artist from Cokethorpe School won in the Reception to Year 2 category of the Young Art Oxford Competition, with more than 250 entries submitted from the school alone.

Of those, 57 works were shortlisted for exhibition, and several other pupils were also named as category winners.

Helen Hammond, art teacher at Cokethorpe School, said: “Young Art Oxford is such a valuable opportunity for children to express themselves creatively and feel proud of what they can achieve.

“We encourage every pupil to develop their own ideas and interpretations, while helping them build techniques and confidence along the way.”

The annual competition is open to children from Reception to Year 9 across Oxfordshire and attracted nearly 3,000 entries this year. (Image: Cokethorpe School)

The annual competition, open to children from Reception to Year 9 across Oxfordshire, attracted nearly 3,000 entries this year.

Participants included children from state, independent and SEN schools, as well as home-schooled pupils.

Funds raised from each entry went toward supporting the Rafiki Thabo Foundation.

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Shortlisted artworks were exhibited at the Ashmolean Museum on May 15 and May 16.

A private viewing and prize-giving ceremony also took place on Friday evening.

Mrs Helen Hammond, Art Teacher at Cokethorpe School said the competition was a ‘valuable opportunity for children to express themselves’ (Image: Cokethorpe School)

Cokethorpe School is an independent co-educational day school for pupils aged four to 18.

Pupils receive weekly 50-minute art lessons from Reception to Year 8.

Based near Witney and set on a 150-acre parkland estate, the school was founded in 1957.

It became co-educational in 1992 and delivers a research-informed education in a rural setting.