St Mary’s Primary School winners of Sky Ocean Rescue and Premier League’s Plastic Pollution Challenge!

There were celebrations at a Wrexham primary school on Friday thanks to the winning achievements of its pupils.

St Mary’s School received a visit from the Premier League trophy after Clywedog and Taff class (Year 3) were crowned the winners of Sky Ocean Rescue and the Premier League’s Plastic Pollution Challenge.

The school was competing against nine others to become overall national winners, however it was their ‘Think and Reuse’ recycling pledge that saw pupils chosen ahead of their competitors.

As well as the Premier League trophy, the school were also visited by Plasticus (the Sky Ocean Rescue whale) and some other special guests.

Rachel Acton, headteacher at St Mary’s said: “We’re so proud of our Year 3 children who are educating our school community with their pledge ‘Think and Reuse.’

“It’s so important that our children understand their responsibility to look after our planet and they, alongside our Eco Committee, are truly leading the way.

“It’s wonderful to think that through their work, the children have been inspired to think of new initiatives to improve recycling facilities in the school and to educate all members of the school community, including the catering staff.”

Previously the class been spreading their ‘Think and Reuse’ message across Wrexham by asking local cafes to put their ‘Refill not Landfill’ recycling posters in their shop windows.

The whole of St. Mary’s have now taken on the ‘Think and Reuse’ pledge. In future events such as discos and sports days, single-use plastics will be avoided.

A ‘no plastic lunchbox challenge’ has been introduced encouraging children and parents to think, “Do I really need plastic packaging?”

School assemblies about the alternatives to single-use plastics have also taken place. The children are also in the process of making plastic bottle greenhouses and the school has introduced a crisp packaging recycling scheme.

Austeja, a pupil at St Mary’s, said: “We want people to think before they buy plastic.

“Do they really need to buy it or can they use a reusable item such as a bag, lunchbox or bottle instead?”

Eric added: “We’ve learnt so much about recycling in our plastic topic and I think we should try and teach everyone how important it is and why.”

Cllr David A Bithell, lead member for environment and transport said the school was a “credit to Wrexham” and deserving champions.

He said: “I was really impressed when I learnt of the work of St Mary’s Clywedog and Taff class across Wrexham, which led to them being invited to Sky Studios to make their recycling presentation.

“And therefore it’s no surprise that they were then crowned overall winners.

“They’re fantastic – a credit to Wrexham – and if anyone of us needs any inspiration to recycle, they should look no further than these deserving champions.”