Teesside primary school scoops £2,000 project prize

A garden project designed by pupils at a school in Teesside has scooped the £2,000 prize in an environmental competition.

Primary teachers at Wilton Primary School entered their pupils in the BOC-NEPIC Industrial and School Environmental Awards and were among 20 other north-east schools in the running for the prize.

But judges were bowled over by the Wilton children's 'mini-beast sanctuary' idea and awarded them the prize, which will now be used to fund the creation of the park, the Evening Gazette reported.

Michelle Perks, whose class devised the concept and entered the competition, told the newspaper that the children loved coming up with the ideas, developing the plans and then making a model and a video.

"We are excited to be able to turn the ideas into a real project that the children can deliver and then use throughout the years to come," she said.

Head teacher Alison Hill accepted the prize on behalf of Miss Perks and her class at a packed ceremony attended by 450 local businesspeople at Hardwick Hall.

Teachers at Gowerton Comprehensive in Swansea are also celebrating after their school was presented with the prestigious Third Millennium Learning Award in recognition of their innovative use of technology.

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