STUDENTS at Thornton Grammar School landed the Be Your Best Foundation Award for Student Leadership in the national final of a theatrical performance competition.

A group of 110 students took part in the Rock Challenge final in Milton Keynes where they faced the cream of theatrical performers from across Great Britain.

The eight-minute production, called 5 or 8, was inspired by the 1995 film and board game Jumanji and its original board game.

The students, aged between 12 and 18 including 68 dancers, have worked on the production since September last year. The other students worked as part of the production's crew and backstage in areas including hair and make-up.

Rock Challenge sees participating schools produce musical and theatrical performances. They are marked on production, design and performance.

School teams made up from 20 to 100 performers decides on a theme, ten create the choreography for their five to eight-minute dance-drama performance, select and record the medley of music for their soundtrack, and design and make their sets and costumes.

The production itself has been choreographed by student Shahkeel Brar, 18.

Lucy Cowley, teacher, who oversaw the project, said: "We didn't finish in the top four but the kids had a great time.

"Just getting to the national final was great."