PUPILS at a Worcester school have been looking at the life of historical figure Nelson Mandela as part of their school work.

The history department at Nunnery Wood High School decided to run a competition about Mr Mandela following his death, aged 95, at the end of 2013.

History teacher Bee Speechley said the pupils at the Spetchley Road school were encouraged to undertake their own research into the life and times of the former South African president, to look at positive and negative opinions and to decide whether he was a hero or not.

They were then asked to produce a piece of work and entries included displays of photographs, artwork, poetry and written descriptions of Mandela's life with prizes awarded for the best ones.

Miss Speechley said: "We wanted the students to have the chance to develop another part of the curriculum.

"We asked them to draw on their historical skills of enquiry and interpretation.

" We wanted them to form their own opinions.

"It was in the news so there was lots of information they could refer to.

"We had a phenomenal number of entries, well over 100 from years 7, 8 and 9.

"The range of work they produced was quite incredible."

The winners of the competition were Harry Church and Dan Rickman, from year 7, Jade Bedford from year 8 and Ali Ahmed from year 9.

They all received a £10 voucher for their efforts.

Runners up included James Dec, Darian Murray, Maddie Kinnersley and Hannah-Jo Pass from year 7, Charlotte Cooper, Sam Causley and Ella Sutton, from year 8, and Olivia Saunders and Georgina Last, from year 9.

The runners up received a £5 voucher.