A CRADLEY Heath school and a water company have teamed up to provide pupils with drinking water and text books in a bid to improve standards.

Sutton Coldfield company Filtered Water Coolers sponsored Ormiston Forge Academy to distribute free SKIPS learning books to local primary schools.

Ormiston Forge Academy principal Andrew Burns backed the partnership which has also seen drinking water fountains installed in the 1400 pupil school.

He said: "As part of our duty to the local community we have had help from Filtered Water Coolers Ltd who assisted financially by sponsoring purchases of Key stage 2 books for use at our feeder and partner schools in the locality.

"It's vital to support the community and education across the borough and I'm very grateful to FWC for their support."

Filtered Water Coolers Ltd supply water drinking water systems to keep staff and students hydrated throughout the school day.

Mark McDermott, from FWC, Ltd said: “Drinking water regularly especially through exam periods is good practice for both pupils and teachers alike with one recent study reporting exam results were improved by five per cent.

"This was mainly down to water improving concentration but also it was found students who took water into exams were much less anxious."