Eco-Schools Scotland 2025 Awards winners announced

As 30 years of Eco-Schools in Scotland is celebrated, nominees from 30 schools which proudly fly the international Eco-Schools Green Flag, across 16 local authority areas, were received.

Awards have been presented in three categories - recognising those individuals and committees that have truly gone above and beyond in their Eco-Schools work, inspiring those around them and delivering innovative environmental action. The winners are:

Eco-Coordinator of the Year: Brendan Fox, Auchmuty High School, Fife 

Climate Action Project of the Year: Leverhulme Memorial School, Western Isles, and Braes High School, Falkirk

Eco-Committee of the Year: Oban High School, Argyll and Bute

All winners will receive a trophy made from recycled marine plastic and the winning committees and projects have been invited to speak at a Meet and Greet session on 29 May. 

Andrea Gabriel, our Education and Learning Manager, said: “Every year our Eco-Schools Awards allow us to celebrate the very best of the brilliant work pupils all over the country are achieving in environmental education. 

“Once again we were so impressed with every entry and I’d like to say congratulations to all our winners for their fantastic efforts. We love working with the thousands of children, young people and educators in schools across Scotland involved in Eco-Schools and it was so inspiring to see such a broad variety of submissions this year.  

“As we celebrate 30 years of Eco-Schools in Scotland we look forward to supporting Scottish Government priorities including the implementation and achievement of the Target 2030 Action Plan for Learning for Sustainability.”

Brendan Fox said: "Have to say I’m overwhelmed and grateful for this prestigious award but it wouldn’t have been possible without Auchmuty High School's outstanding Eco-Committee, janitors, cleaners, pupils and all their amazing staff.

"A big thank you to Fife’s St Columba’s and Madras College too. What I’ve really found uplifting and appreciated so much through all this work, is just what an appetite and enthusiasm our generations of tomorrow have to improve our wonderful planet today."

Mairi Macleod, Class Teacher at Leverhulme Memorial School, said: "The pupils have loved their journey to becoming an Ocean Friendly school! We really enjoyed our cross-curricular activities which gave an insight into marine habitats and ecosystems, and an in-depth understanding of the problem of microfibers in our oceans.   

"We also had the opportunity to work with many community partners as well as the Marine Conservation Society.  The brilliant thing was that the process not only highlighted the issue, it empowered the children to become agents of change! They now know that they have the ability to change not only their own habits, but to drive change in the community and perhaps even the country!

"We are eagerly anticipating the bill for filters on washing machines being discussed in Parliament.  Sustainable Global Goals 14 and 12 have provided rich learning opportunities embedded throughout our inter-disciplinary learning."

Mr Iain Livingstone, Headteacher at Braes High School, said: "We are very proud of our young people’s commitment to climate action, the leadership they have shown and the way in which they have worked with pupils across Falkirk schools to raise awareness and support change."

Eco-Schools is the largest sustainable schools programme in the world with almost 20 million children, young people and educators engaged worldwide in 73 different countries. In Scotland almost 900 schools currently fly the Green Flag proudly while hundreds of others are on their own journey, through our Climate Action Schools framework, to achieve one. 

Eco-Schools is one of five programmes operated internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful in Scotland as part of our Climate Action Schools framework. We are grateful to receive funding from the Scottish Government to support Eco-Schools grow and develop. 

More information can be found here.