Recycling joy for Academy

The academy community has successfully recycled over 24,800 disused electrical items in the region.

Their tenacious efforts have earned them with a top spot on the UK-wide competition leader board, resulting in a £10,000 grand prize for school technology resources.

Kettles, wires and other discarded household objects which would otherwise be sent to landfill were collected by the school.

The donations spanned the region, even beckoning former pupils to get involved with the large-scale sustainability efforts.

Annan Parent Council representatives Wendy Hamilton, Fiona Robson and Sarah Vallance, who organised the collections, were joined by Olivia Bicket, a pupil representing the academy to mark the success with a photograph at the academy.

The team said they were grateful to everyone in the area who took part in the initiative including Miss Todd.

“As we climbed up the leader board, people got excited about the competition. Pupils have been really engaged organising things, and the whole community has been involved. Staff at local businesses have been doing various things for us,” Fiona said.

Wendy added that sustainability has been a big part of the school curriculum.

“It allowed the children to realise that as a community, we can be more sustainable and everyone can be part of that. It meant they were learning that even once they’ve finished school, they still have to be sustainable. I think it also helped the community realise that they could also do their bit for the future and get involved,” Wendy said.

Fiona added: “Everyone feels proud of the school, because look what we’ve done. We’re Annan Academy”
As a result, the team has successfully diverted thousands of electrical objects from landfill, as well as bringing young people together to learn about the importance of environmentally conscious practices.

In addition to the £10,000 grand prize of vouchers for laptops and tablets for the academy, the team also won the June draw, securing more vouchers for the school.

The academy team said the result has instilled a sense of community pride and will leave a lasting legacy of pupils’ dedication to the environment and the planet.