Schoolboys from Mitcham played guitar for a government minister when he visited a Wimbledon school last week.

Schools minister Lord Nash was invited to visit King’s College School in Wimbledon where the group of 13-year-olds from St Mark’s Academy in Mitcham had been taught to play the instrument by sixth form students.

The visit was prompted by the Wimbledon school’s wide-ranging work with a group of maintained schools and academies in South London.

Schools Minister Lord Nash said: “The excellent work that King’s College School leads with seven partner schools is a great example of the strong partnerships that exist between many independent and state schools.

“It means students and teachers from both sectors learn from each other – and it is extremely beneficial all round.

“I commend the work that King’s College School is doing, and strongly encourage other independent schools to develop similar successful partnerships.”