ST JOSEPH’S Primary School in Headington is hoping to make striking up a tune that bit easier for its pupils.

The school in Headley Way has been shortlisted for the School Build SOS competition which could see thousands of pounds worth of work carried out on the school building.

It is hoping to use the money to make improvements to its music room to encourage more pupils to take the subject.

Sue Tomkys, headteacher of St Joseph’s, said: “We have got a music room which is not that big and a large proportion of our pupils happen to play an instrument.

“We are very tight for space and what we are aiming to do is knock through into what is at the moment a PE storeroom.

“It is not a very glamorous plan but it is really vital. This will make it easier to get them into music.”

For the fourth year running, the Oxford Mail has teamed up with Abingdon-based construction company Leadbitter to offer a £7,500 grant to a primary school.

Six schools have now been shortlisted and they must battle it out between them.

Ian Batchelor is operations director of Leadbitter which built the training grounds for the 2012 Olympics.

He said: “The children at St Joseph’s Primary School have an exceptional teacher in choir mistress Edwina Vernon.

“Through her the school has raised funds for charities such as Helen House, Shelter and Christian Aid to name but a few.

“We felt that their request was well presented and would benefit not only the children but others within the community.”

Schools must now collect the tokens which appear every day in the Oxford Mail. They have until Tuesday, July 17, to collect as many as they can.

The number of tokens collected will be weighted against the number of pupils at each school to give each application a fair chance of winning. Work for the successful plan will be carried out over the summer holidays.

  • Tomorrow we focus on plans by Bampton Primary School to revamp its outdoor area.