Agata Siudak and Poppy Bastable worked together to produce their model skeleton cat for the contest, run by the National Association of Teachers of Religious Studies.

Based on Celebrations: Big Days and Big Ideas, their work was inspired by the Mexican celebration Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) – a special day for welcoming back the souls of deceased family and friends by celebrating their life.

The two year 8 students said they wanted to show how a negative could become a positive through their art work and were “surprised but very happy” to be commended on the association’s website.

College principal Matthew Carpenter said: “This annual competition attracts on average 20,000 entries, from as far afield as Australia, and we are so proud that the excellent work of Agata and Poppy has been recognised.”