AWARD-winning headteacher Mags Long last Friday made sure of future growth at St Rumon's Infants School when she planted an apple tree in the grounds.
Mrs Long received the tree and £23,500 for the school after winning the national Leadership Trust category in last year's teaching awards.
She said: 'Winning the award is the stuff of dreams. The cash award has made an incredible difference to us all. We have been able to implement planned improvements to our buildings years ahead of schedule. We have developed our reception area, increased our outdoor play provision and all students benefited from a musical performance with the "Drum Crazy" team.
'There are many smaller, but equally significant ways, in which the award has made a difference. Our caretaker now has a "state of the art" cleaning trolley, staff have a new coffee machine, and all classes now have extra equipment.'
Paul Winter, chief executive of the Leadership Trust Foundation said: 'We are presenting apple trees to all of our award-winning schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to continue our recognition of the investment they are making to the future of our children
'The apple trees will bear fruit when nurtured and are symbolic of how effective education can enable a young person's abilities to come to fruition. The apple is also the emblem for the county of Herefordshire, where the foundation is based.'