FIRST-YEAR students at Coniston’s John Ruskin School have been given free musical instruments for a year to develop their study skills.

The idea is the brainchild of music teacher Bronwyn Cutts, who hopes to ‘fire up’ interest in the subject among pupils.

All year seven students are now in possession of flutes, clarinets, violins and guitars.

John Ruskin is understood to be the only secondary school in Cumbria providing such an opportunity to pupils. Head teacher Miriam Bailey said: “Research shows that learning to play a musical instrument helps young people develop their study skills and supports their learning.”