CHILDREN at an Oxford primary are hoping to have the chance to decide how to spend £7,500 of Olympic-themed improvements to their school.

New Marston Primary School is the latest of our five School Olympic Save Our Schools finalists to be profiled.

The Oxford Mail and Abingdon construction company Leadbitter have teamed up for the second time to offer up to £7,500 improvements to one lucky primary school, this time with an Olympic theme.

Year Five children at New Marston came up with a series of improvements they would like to make at their school.

They are hoping to win the cash for permanent goalposts, Olympic-themed equipment such as a long-jump pit, high jump bars and crash mats, running tracks and javelins, and to paint the sports hall themselves according to their own design.

PE co-ordinator and Year Five teacher Russell Wood said the youngsters had “endless” ideas on how to improve their PE facilities.

He said: “There is not enough money to spend on all the things we would like to buy.

“I work really hard to make sure they have as many PE opportunities as possible but without the right equipment, there is only a certain amount you can do.”

Mr Wood said it was part of the school’s creative curriculum to allow the children the opportunity to be as involved in their own learning as possible.

The school is already organising a number of Olympic-themed activities, including a ‘virtual’ competition with other schools in the area. Staff are also hoping that the Olympic and Paralympic mascots may be able to visit New Marston.

Mr Wood said: “Getting the money would energise the whole school, not just the children but the staff as well.”

We will be explaining each of the proposed schemes in the Oxford Mail over the next three weeks, and printing special tokens, below, alongside each story.

Then it is over to schools, pupils and their supporters to collect as many vouchers as possible. They will be ‘weighted’ according to the number of pupils in each school to ensure a fair result.

HERE are the finalists and the addresses where you can send vouchers: -Kingfisher School, Abingdon – garden makeover.

Kingfisher School, Radley Road, Abingdon, OX14 3RR -New Marston Primary School, Oxford – sports equipment and a sports hall revamp.

New Marston Primary School, Copse Lane, Headington, Oxford, OX3 0AY -Launton Primary School – indoor and outdoor apparatus and climbing equipment.

Launton Primary School, Bicester Road, Launton, OX26 5DP -Wheatley Primary School – new changing rooms and sports equipment.

Wheatley Primary School, Littleworth Road, Wheatley, OX33 1NN -Edith Moorhouse School, Carterton – upgrade activity centre and adventure playground.

Edith Moorhouse Primary School, Lawton Avenue, Carterton, OX18 3HP