The pupils have been rehearsing every week for the prom

Pupils at Caerleon Comprehensive impressed organisers of the annual school proms with their musical ability and guaranteed themselves a place in the three-day festival.

The festival features the best musical talent from schools across the UK and the 80-strong ensemble from Caerleon have been given the most prestigious slot of the whole event.

They have the task of ending the prom with a performance of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance.

Led by head of music at the school, Carol Beer, the children were putting the finishing touches to their performance before heading to London for Wednesday's show.

"It is a real accolade for us," said Mrs Beer.

"Playing at the end of the festival is a pretty prestigious honour, but the children are so dedicated that they really deserve it.

"This is the pinnacle of everything we have done this year, but it is a big responsibility and a huge challenge.

It is a bit daunting and I am a bit nervous but I am sure it is going to be great Student Alick Cotterill

"It is the experience of a lifetime and I am sure once the children get up there and the adrenalin starts pumping they will be brilliant," she said.

The children have been rehearsing every week since returning from their summer break in September in preparation for the festival.

But some of the students have a double challenge on their hands, as 24 of them are also members of Newport's Senior Wind Band, which has also been selected to play.

One of those pupils is 14-year-old trumpeter Alick Cotterill.

"It is a bit daunting and I am a bit nervous but I am sure it is going to be great," he said.

The orchestra is made up of about 80 pupils

The schools proms are world acclaimed and are organised by 'Music for Youth', an educational charity with a worldwide reputation for its work in music.

It provides free access to education and performance opportunities for all kinds of groups of young musicians and audiences through a nationwide series of festivals and concerts.

And the Caerleon pupils are guaranteed a huge round of applause after their performance - six bus loads of supporters are planning to go the last night of the proms.

Niamh Ferris, 17, a violinist and Verity Pavitt,17, who plays the cello, are also looking forward to the performance.

"We have had loads of practice thanks to Mrs Beer and it is a really big thing for the school," said Verity.

"We are all a bit nervous about it but it is going to be brilliant," said Niamh.