Auchinleck Primary School receives civic recognition

Provost Claire Leitch presented pupils from Auchinleck Primary School with a certificate of civic recognition this week in honour of their commitment to improvement and sustainability.

In June of this year, the school was awarded the Community Partnership of the Year accolade as part of The King's Foundation's 35th anniversary celebrations. The award celebrates an organisation which has gone above and beyond to partner with The King’s Foundation during the year.

The school had been nominated for the way in which it adopted The King’s Foundation’s Harmony education programme; as well as the regular visits that pupils make to Dumfries House estate where they take part in STEM, farming and rural skills, and horticulture day visits. Pupils also take part in the Growing Together Cooking Together programme that helped to kick start their school garden with the help of school teaching and support staff.

Provost Leitch invited pupils into Council HQ to hear more about the award which was presented to head teacher Lee McPhail and depute head Pauline Robertson by Alan Titchmarsh at a ceremony at St James’s Palace in the presence of His Majesty The King, charity ambassadors and fellow award winners.

Pupils from the primary had met Alan Titchmarsh at Dumfries House earlier this year, and he had been extremely impressed with how enthusiastic they were while working in the gardens, as well as their commitment to looking after the planet.

Provost Leitch, who presented the pupils with a certificate and an engraved crystal rose bowl,  said: “It was a real pleasure to present this civic recognition to Auchinleck Primary School for its incredible efforts to make a difference to our environment. The enthusiasm shown by the pupils and staff is really inspiring and they’ve shown what can be achieved when a whole school community works together for a greener future.”