Cilla the calming school cat wins national award

A cat who helps calm anxious pupils before tests at the primary school where she lives has won a national award.

Twelve-year-old Cilla, who lives at Outwoods Primary in Atherstone, Warwickshire, won the National Cat Award's Connected Cats honour, for cats that have made an impact on social media or in their local community.

Head teacher Sally Taylor said they held an emergency assembly on Thursday to decide how to celebrate her "connected cat" award success.

She said: "She came in and sat next to the award and started licking it...she looked like she had just been waiting for the results!"

The children are big fans of their school cat

Cilla first appeared as a hungry stray about six years ago and now has six beds around the school and 26,000 followers on social media.

"She's a diva!" said the head teacher who described the domestic shorthair as very intuitive with a calming presence.

Among other benefits, Cilla - short for Priscilla Outwoods - supports Year 6 pupils before and after their Sats (Standard Assessment Tests).

"She comes into every single room, every day and she loves to be loved by us," said one pupil, while another added she was "really kind, and really soft".

Cilla's trophy and a large picture of her is set to go in the school's entrance hall so everyone can see it and celebrate her, said Ms Taylor.

A large image of Cilla will be on display in the school's entrance hall