GIRVAN Academy has been announced as the winner of the 2024 Provost School Footprint Challenge after almost a year of tough competition between South Ayrshire schools.

The challenge gives young people in local schools the chance to develop, implement, and present solutions for reducing their own schools' carbon footprint.

Each school is challenged to undertake their own projects to tackle climate change; ranging from reducing energy use, increasing recycling and litter picking, and improving biodiversity; whilst raising awareness about these important issues.

Girvan Academy claimed the top prize for upgrading their outdoor classroom, working to increase biodiversity around the school, planting marram grass to prevent coastal erosion on the golf course and continuing an ongoing clothing recycling project.

Pupils also started working with the Girvan Youth Trust on their eco-friendly projects.

The school building has also been upgraded with a variety of energy saving measures.

Marr College secured second placefor their initiatives related to biodiversity, waste reduction and community involvement, and Southcraig School won third place with their initiatives for biodiversity, involvement, and waste reduction through their sustainable enterprise project.

The competition was held for the first time at Dumfries House, offering the children a range of fun activities as well as the chance to wow the panel of judges with presentations about the great work they'd been carrying out over the course of the school term.

Provost Iain Campbell said: "This year's Provost School Footprint Challenge provided another brilliant opportunity for the young people of South Ayrshire to develop their own projects to tackle climate change.

"The pupils never fail to blow away the judges with their innovative ideas, and this year was no different with an exceptional standard of work across the schools!"

"I'd like to congratulate our winners, Girvan Academy, and all the schools that participated. You should all be very proud of what you've achieved - you're a credit to your communities."