SCRAWLING on the walls of your school is something that would usually land you in detention.

But at Oxford Community School, in Glanville Road, East Oxford, a whole series of dramatic and diverse wall paintings are emerging as part of a special project.

A-Level and BTEC students have been working with artist Dionne Barber to take inspiration from Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi - who has an exhibition at Modern Art Oxford, in Pembroke Street.

And they are transforming their school environment in the process.

Ms Barber, who is based in Headington, said: "I have been working with them for the past few months organising the project.

"Mr Qureshi came in to work with the students and did a three-day workshop with them - and they really liked the idea of doing some wall paintings around the school."

So the students set about seeking overlooked areas of the school and working in small groups to create the murals.

Ms Barber said: "They don't often get an opportunity where they are allowed to write on walls, so it's lovely to be able to work with the school in this way."

She added: "We have been taking areas that are slightly decaying and thinking how can we rework this to give it a different shape.

She said everyone had come up with their own ideas, adding: "I've been working with one group of girls who are doing more flowery shapes evolving out of a big hole in the wall. Another group has done letters spilling out of the window sill."

Five different paintings are being created around the school - some up to 5sq ft. And students also created their own miniature paintings in the Mughal tradition, inspired by Mr Qureshi's style and using reworked photographic images of the school's architecture.

They are made with handmade wasli paper and applied gold leaf and will be on display in Modern Art Oxford's cafe until January 6.

A reception will be held at the gallery for students, their families and staff on Wednesday.

Mr Qureshi's exhibition will continue at the gallery until December 16.