Celebrating environmental improvements with the clean, green awards!
A special celebration event was held at St Joseph’s Academy recently that recognised children and young people from across East Ayrshire who are committed to introducing environmental change to their classrooms and communities.
The Clean Green Awards highlighted the incredible work taking place in all East Ayrshire educational facilities from Early Years right through to senior pupils in secondary schools. The event focused on the key themes of the climate change strategy – energy, transport, waste and natural environment – which children and young people helped to develop through the work of the Youth Climate Change Conferences held each September.
All East Ayrshire schools are being supported to work towards Bronze, Silver and Gold award accreditation and a highly commended accreditation was also introduced for each of the three award categories.
This was the first year that a school has earned a Gold award. The Gold award is very difficult to achieve and the schools must demonstrate that climate change work has been embedded across all themes and that they are making a difference not only within their schools but within the wider community.
Gold awards were presented to – Kilmarnock Academy for their commitment to Green Health, Netherthird Primary and Early Childhood Centre for their dedication to tackling climate change by making positive change in their school and community; and Park School received Gold and the Chair’s award for Outstanding Achievement 2024/25 for their exceptional commitment to achieving environmental change.
Five schools – Annanhill Primary, Darvel Primary, Hurlford Primary, Fenwick Primary and Early Childhood Centre and New Cumnock Primary School all earned highly commended silver awards through their innovative work which included planting seeds and trees in their gardens, introducing eco-police - where the children and young people ensure that there is no littering.
Kilmarnock Academy teacher Samantha Torbet, who was the Council’s probationer of the year from 2023, was presented with the staff award for Outstanding Commitment and Enthusiasm for Climate Change. While Planet Protector Awards were presented to Dunlop Early Childhood Centre, Kilmaurs Early Childhood Centre and Nether Robertland Early Childhood Centre.
All the schools who participated in the Nature Nurture initiative were also presented with a Tree of Life trophy. East Ayrshire Leisure provided the base for each trophy, which was made from a felled tree from Dean Castle Country Park. The children and young people had to complete tasks to earn a nature charm for their trophy that included Green Guardian, Caring Conservationist and Expert Environmentalist.
Councillor Graham Barton, Spokesperson for Planning, Property and Environment was joined by Provost Claire Leitch, Depute Provost John McGhee and Councillors Neill Watts, Neal Ingram, Linda Mabon, Peter Mabon and Jayne Sangster, and Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Director of Education and Skills, at the awards.
Councillor Barton said: “What an amazing day we had at St Joseph’s Academy celebrating the success of our children and young people. There is incredible work taking place in our educational facilities and positive change is being driven forward by our children and young people who are wholly committed to tackling the climate emergency.
“This year four very successful school projects have delivered significant change – Dinnae Forget you Caddy, Shoot to Saturn, Power Down and Nurture Nature. These were driven forward by Principal Teacher Vicky McWilliam and every award submission made reference to these projects. At the event the figures for food recycling were revealed and this has increased in every single community in East Ayrshire, which is astounding. Power Down has also seen some big changes and reduction in power usage in our schools, with some achieving 11% of a reduction.
“What was clear on the day is our children and young people, and Education staff are very creative. In addition to the Windy award created by our young people from Stewarton, there were poems, songs, stories, artwork and many more to encourage and direct our journey towards net zero.
“I was delighted to present a special teacher’s award to Samantha Torbet from Kilmarnock Academy who was recognised for Outstanding Commitment and Enthusiasm for Climate Change, and a Gold Award and the Chair’s Award to Park School. Their commitment to tackling climate change has been exceptional with pupils leading change within the school.
“If only we could use the energy created in the room – we would be at net zero tomorrow!”
Awards were presented to:
Bronze Award – Galston Primary School
Bronze Highly Commended Award – Bellsbank Primary, Catrine Primary, Dalmellington Primary and Early Childhood Centre, Doon Academy, Flowerbank Early Childhood Centre, Galston Early Childhood Centre, Hillside School, James Hamilton Primary and Sgoil na Coille Nuaidh, Lainshaw Primary, Loanhead Primary and Early Childhood Centre, Lochnorris Primary, Logan Primary and Early Childhood Centre, Mount Carmel Primary, Muirkirk Primary, Sorn Primary, St Xavier’s Primary, Willowbank School and Whatriggs Primary.
Silver Award – Hillhead Primary, Drongan Primary, Dunlop Primary, Kilmaurs Primary, St Sophia’s Primary, Patna Primary, ASL and Early Childhood Centre, Newmilns Primary and Early Childhood Centre, Nether Robertland Primary and Mauchline Primary.
Silver Highly Commended - Hurlford Primary, Fenwick Primary and Early Childhood Centre, Darvel Primary and Annanhill Primary.
Gold Award - Park School, Netherthird Primary and Early Childhood Centre and Kilmarnock Academy.