Youngsters plan to pool their money

Jun 27 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

NORTHUMBERLAND pupils are planning to build a pond in their grounds if they win a share of £15,000 in The Journal’s Tokens for Schools competition.

Greenhaugh First School, near Bellingham, already has an adventure trail and an outdoor classroom.

And if it wins a cash prize in the token-collecting race, they are to introduce their pupils to some pond life.

More than 50 schools from across the region are competing for a share of a £15,000 Tokens for Schools pot.

There are four prizes in each of three categories – primary and first schools; secondary, middle and high schools; and special needs schools.

First prize is £2,500 and second is £1,500.

The third and fourth-placed schools in each section will receive £500 each.

There are no restrictions on how the prize money can be spent by the winners.

Amanda Lewis, headteacher at Greenhaugh, said they were keen to add to the school’s existing range of outdoor facilities.

“We have got an adventure trail and have now got an outdoor classroom,” she said. “There is also a hay meadow that we have established and what we want now is to have a pond area.

“Then we can have some native pond species and some plants. We do a lot of work with the wildlife trust and national parks.

“The kids get involved themselves in things like recycling and composting, so nature is very important to us.”

There will be updates on the competition in The Journal over the coming weeks, allowing people to track their school’s progress.

Tokens will appear in The Journal every day until Friday, July 11.

“The element of competition has spurred them on and for them to do something for their own benefit through the school is great,” Mrs Lewis said.

“Also, because we’re a smaller school we often don’t enter these things as we don’t have a fair chance but Tokens for Schools makes it a lot fairer.”

:: For your school's chance to win a share of £15,000 Click here to complete the online registration form.