PUPILS are celebrating after winning a competition to name a new homes location opposite their Worcestershire school.

Children, aged from four to 12, took part in the Bovis Homes competition, at St Barnabas CE First and Middle School, to name a new development in Drakes Broughton.

Pupils carried out extensive research into the area and into the challenges and benefits that housebuilding brings to a community, before coming up with a wide variety of names.

Following a tough judging process, Class 5AH won the challenge, naming the housebuilder’s site in Worcester Road as Pear Tree Walk, in reference to the area’s link to the fruit, and were delighted to see the new signage when Bovis Homes representatives visited the school.

Plan for 110 homes and bungalows approved in Drakes Broughton

Teacher, Mr Hirons, said 5AH could now not wait to watch the development take shape over the road from the school.

He said: “Naming a new housing development is not an opportunity that comes up very often, so when the chance arose, the class were very keen to be involved.”

One of his pupils, Jered, added: “The class cheered as we found out that our name was chosen. It was fun to come up with all of those names and it was very exciting to win the competition.”

The whole school was included in the competition and each class sent acting headteacher Stephen Booth a shortlist of names.

Mr Booth said: “We were so impressed with the names our pupils came up with and want to thank Bovis Homes for encouraging them to get so involved in this project.

“The children thoroughly involved themselves in the naming process, even going away to do their independent research on pear trees and the history of Drakes Broughton and Pershore.

“Many of them travel past the site on their way to and from school and we can see it from our playing fields.

“They are so interested in seeing it develop and to know they actively came up with the name, which is now proudly placed on signage at the development with our school’s name on it.

“During active workshops, which formed part of the competition, teachers taught them about the history and geography of the area and the positive impact new-build housing has, including environmental issues.”

Bovis Homes colleagues involved in the site were the judges of the competition, picking the Year 5 class as the winners, and the new signage is now proudly on display.