Pupils hoping for art project date with the National Gallery

Gallery representatives yesterday visited Gawber Primary School in Barnsley to view pupils' work inspired by the painting Tobias and the Angel by Italian artist Andrea del Verrocchio.

Photographs of the children's drawings were submitted to the National Gallery in October as part of the Take One Picture scheme and they have now been selected as finalists from hundreds of schools across the country.

Judges viewed the paintings for themselves yesterday and, if Gawber Primary School is selected, the children will have their pictures displayed next summer at the National Gallery's annual exhibition in central London.

Year Six teacher Sally Burston said: "When we went down to the gallery in September with the children and saw some of the work that was selected to be shown from last year's Take One Picture scheme, the standard was incredible.

"To think that our children are capable of producing work that could be shown in the National Gallery is such a huge achievement. I'm so proud of them."

Take One Picture is the National Gallery's national scheme for primary schools, which each year focuses on a different painting from the collection.

Teachers are given a print to be used in the classroom to inspire children, and the best work then goes on display in London.