CHILDREN have been rewarded for their efforts at a summer school aimed at raising academic achievements within Oxford's Bangladeshi and Pakistani community.

The course, the first of its kind in Oxford, was organised by Oxfordshire County Council's education department, Oxfordshire Bangladeshi Association, Oxford Study Support Club and Oxford Community School.

Thirty-five Bangladeshi and Pakistani secondary school pupils from across the city took part in activities aimed at increasing their achievements in core subjects, such as English, maths and science.

Much of the course was held at Oxford Community School, in Glanville Road, east Oxford, but students were also taken to Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, near Didcot, to learn about lasers and energy regeneration.

They also made an Aboriginal mural, before visiting Oxford's Ashmolean Museum to see Aboriginal artefacts.

The five-day course culminated on Thursday with a visit by players from Oxford United. Children tested their skills with a penalty shoot-out.

Pat Norman, community manager at Oxford Community School, said the summer school was organised to raise achieve- ments and aspirations of teenagers -- particularly boys -- from ethnic minorities.

She said: "Young Pakistani and Bangladeshi students are not reaching Government targets at school. It's a great example of what working in a partnership can achieve.

"We're so impressed that we hope to run more similar courses."

Each of the children who took part received a certificate from Oxfordshire County Council chairman Shereen Karmali.

The summer school was organised following the success of Oxford Study Support Club, which meets on Sundays at Oxford Community School.