A pair of pupils at Gosford Hill School in Kidlington have shown that the spirit of voluntary work is alive and well among today's youth.

Rebecca Worth and Stuart Lavery, both 18, found time while studying for their A-Levels to help the community.

They have been jointly given the Alderman Wise Award, for voluntary work in Kidlington.

Rebecca was given the distinction for her work as leader of a Brownie group, and Stuart for organising sporting activities for children. Rebecca was made leader of the 3rd Kidlington Brownies group in September. She was responsible for planning activities, compiling accounts and organising meetings, and had to do a course in health and safety.

She has also helped with German lessons in primary schools and is chairman of the Ranger's Guide Unit in Kidlington.

Rebecca, of Hawthorn Way, Kidlington, said she liked having a lot of responsibility.

"I just really enjoy it. I want to be a primary school teacher, so working with that age range will help in the future.

"I see it as a break from school.

"I'll take one hour a day to catch up on things. If I keep on top of things like the accounts, it doesn't interfere with my studies."

Stuart, of Norris Road, Upper Arncott, extended his interest in sport beyond representing Oxfordshire's under-20s rugby team to organise a string of events.

He also coaches the Chipping Norton and Oxfordshire under-15 rugby teams and his school's rugby, football, cricket and gymnastics.

He runs the school sailing club and supervises activity trips to South Wales for children,

For the second year running, he organised Kidlington's "Commonwealth Games", in which about 200 children compete in athletics representing different countries.

He said: "It takes about five months to organise each of the games.

"I do it because I get a sense of achievement when they do something new thanks to my help."

Gosford Hill headteacher David Jones said the pair's efforts showed that some adults' cynicism about young people was misplaced.

"It's a positive aspect of our sixth form that all the students get involved, for one hour a week, in work for the community," he said.

"These two are exceptional in that they have done phenomenal work which should remind people, who can be cynical, that some young people could teach adults a thing or two about working for the good of others."