A GROUP of students from a York school have been given a place in the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth.

Manor CE School pupils Hannah Callow, Zoe Baldock, Miriam Burr, James Washington and Lucy Rawkins have all been accepted into the academy, based at the University of Warwick.

Membership of the academy is open to students aged between 11 and 16 years old who are in the top five per cent nationally.

The students will now take part in activities run by the academy including an intensive summer school.

The summer school will include courses on a range of subjects as well as outings and recreational activities.

Chris Woodward, who co-ordinates the programme at Manor School, said she was delighted the five pupils who had chosen to apply had been so successful.

The National Academy was set up by the University of Warwick in response to the Government's Excellence In Schools white paper.

It offers talented pupils regular regional workshops, on-line learning and summer schools, which this year take place at the University of York.

Updated: 10:31 Wednesday, April 09, 2003