Pupils from a Croydon school have been given the chance to test drive their artistic skills by helping to design heir new sixth form.

The students from Croham Hurst School in South Croydon will help to design the interior of the Vineyard an old house on the school site that is set to become the home of the new sixth form facilities.

Head girl Gabriella Picciano said: "We were very pleased to be offered a hand in designing the internal look of the building that will be home to the sixth form over the next few years.

"In the past classes have been spread across the whole school but from now on they will be concentrated in this new and exciting building."

Building work is already underway to transform the house into a series of teaching rooms, seminar rooms, a computer suite, staff offices and two recreational common rooms.

"The Vineyard is part of the long history of the school so I am delighted that it will continue to be so but with an interior transformed to meet the needs of a 21st century sixth form," explained head of sixth form Ingrid Sutherland.

The work forms part of a long-term development plan which aims to enhance all of the facilities at the 100-year-old school in Croham Road.

Headteacher Jane Abbotts said: "Our buildings development plan lays out proposals for long-term refurbishment to provide the best and latest facilities for the girls.

"But for now we are hoping to provide a vintage crop from a revitalised Vineyard."