STAFF at an Oxford primary school are hoping for a visit from the Duchess of Cambridge after she became patron of a charity supporting pupils struggling with their lessons.

The Art Room, which was established in Oxford in 2002, will celebrate its tenth anniversary in March. Staff contacted St James’s Palace last year to invite the duchess to become patron and were delighted when she agreed.

There are Art Rooms at Rose Hill Primary School, Oxford’s Orchard Meadow Primary School in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, at Matthew Arnold School, Cumnor, at Oxford Spires Academy and at Robert Blair Primary School in London.

Chairman of trustees Grant Phillips said the duchess visited the London primary school in November to see the art therapy work the charity does. He added: “I am very confident we will see her in Oxford. “It is fantastic that she has chosen us as one of her four charities and this royal patronage will take us on to a different plain.

“We are a small but growing charity and spend about £350,000 a year on specialist training for our teachers, and teaching materials, in the five schools where we are based. “Fundraising is always a challenge and this recognition will help us to raise funds so that we can meet the demand for Art Rooms from other schools.”

Mr Phillips said the Art Room had worked with 10,000 children over the past decade. Children referred to the Art Room by teachers or other professionals could have learning difficulties or may have suffered an interrupted education.

The Art Room has run classes at Rose Hill Primary School at The Oval for the past four years, and headteacher Sue Mortimer said the classes were a huge benefit to pupils.

She said: “It’s wonderful that the Duchess of Cambridge has decided to become patron of the Art Room and it would be great to see her here. “About 100 pupils a week aged six to 11 have 90-minute classes in the Art Room, with sessions running four days a week.

“Through art, children get an opportunity to improve their self-esteem and feel better about themselves – teachers really notice a difference when they return to the classroom.

“After spending time with practitioners in the Art Room they develop the confidence to try new exercises. Each project in the Art Room starts with a story as a stimulus, with pupils making and decorating trays, drawers, mirrors and clocks.”

Camron Cassidy, nine, from Rose Hill, added: “I really enjoy it, it’s fun, it’s a calm, really caring place. “Everybody is really kind and supportive, and if you are upset they cheer you up.”

The other three organisations the duchess is now patron of are Action on Addiction, the National Portrait Gallery and East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.

Last year, environmental charity Earthwatch, which is based in Banbury Road, Summertown, was among 26 charities chosen by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to benefit from cash donated by the public to celebrate their marriage, instead of them having a wedding list.