Prize-winning pupils top of the eco-class

PUPILS at a Lothians school have won a national environmental prize.

Whitburn Academy won the Go4SET Trophy and the Best Overall Project award at an event in Edinburgh. The team of six 12-14-year-olds were recognised for their work on an eco-classroom design and scooped a cheque for 250 from event sponsor Viridor.

Whitburn's mentor, Levenseat managing director Tim Walsh, said: "I'm really proud of the Whitburn Academy team for embracing this project with such enthusiasm and intelligence - they truly deserved to win."

Professor Julian Jones, vice-principal of Heriot-Watt University, which hosted the event, said: "Go4SET inspires young people to work on projects of real importance to society, and the theme of sustainable design and construction of an 'eco-classroom' could hardly be more relevant.

"I was really impressed by this year's projects, which filled me with confidence that the next generation of scientists and engineers will rise to the challenge of tackling the world's environmental problems."