Young artists at an Oxford school have been selected to take part in a prestigious arts programme.

Cheney School, Headington, is one of just 10 schools in the South East of England to win a place in the Segro Young Artists Programme 2009.

A-Level art pupils will have the chance to work with a professional artist to create a piece of work for an exhibition in London in June.

Head of art Michelle Johnson said: “It’s a really good opportunity, because it means they will get to work with an established artist.

“We’re working with a glass artist, so it’s something we wouldn’t be able to do ourselves – it’s out of our expertise.”

Artist Sarah Worthington will spend five days working with a group of 20 sixth-formers, with the first meeting taking place on Thursday.

She will help the teenagers to produce a piece of stained glass on the theme World of Work, which will go on display with exhibits from the other 10 schools in the programme.

Some of the art produced by the 10 schools will be purchased by Segro, a property company, for display at the company’s offices.

Mrs Johnson said: “They’re going to learn what it’s like working in the commercial world and they’re also going to learn new skills working in stained glass, and learn how to work together as a team on a group project.

“They’re really excited about it and we’re also excited to see what they come up with.”

Cheney was the only school in Oxfordshire selected to take part, after pupils put forward a presentation and submitted information, together with teachers, on why they should be chosen to be involved and how they would benefit from the chance to work with an outside artist.

Rosie Nolan, 18, from Headington, was one of the pupils involved in the presentation.

She said: “It’s exciting, because we get to work with a specific artist, who works with glass in our case.

“We haven’t done anything like that before, so hopefully we will be able to use new materials, which we wouldn’t have had a chance to use otherwise, because there are so many specialist tools and techniques involved.

“The artist seems very eager to work with us and I think it won’t be so much hard work as much as enjoyable, learning a new speciality.”

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk