A teacher at a secondary school in Dumbarton has won a top award at the Eco-Schools Scotland Awards.

Jennifer Sharkey from Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School scooped the Eco-Coordinator of the Year 2024 Award from a nominee list of more than 30 schools.

The principle teacher of development was recognised for her work in coordinating the school’s Eco-Schools and Learning for Sustainability efforts, playing a key role in raising the profile of environmental activity and securing the school’s second Eco-Schools Green Flag.

She also supports staff and engages with partners such as Education Scotland, local primary schools, and early years providers to support the school agenda of Learning for Sustainability.

Chris Smith, headteacher at Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School, said: "We are absolutely delighted that Jennifer's hard work and determination to ensure our Learning for Sustainability agenda is fully embedded in the life of our school has been recognised.

“It is truly deserved. Jennifer has coordinated work carried out by teams of staff and young people both within our own school community and the wider local area.

"She and her teams worked extremely hard to gain our second Eco-Schools Green Flag this year and she has devised very robust plans to support this.

"Jennifer truly deserves this recognition, and we are incredibly proud of her and everyone involved in this work.”

Organised by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, the annual ceremony received nominations from across 17 local authority areas.

Andrea Gabriel, education and learning coordinator at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: "We love working with, and inspiring the thousands of children, young people and educators in schools across Scotland who are working tirelessly to progress climate change and environmental education action.

"Our awards celebrate the very best of the amazing work being done by so many in their schools and communities, through the Eco-Schools programme.

"We were so impressed with all the entries and I’d like to say a massive congratulations to Jennifer."

The Eco-Schools programme involves almost 20 million children, young people, and educators in 73 countries.