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Double success for Stockton primary school
Two pupils at a Stockton-on-Tees school have scooped major national awards in a public speaking competition.
Janna Oyedeji and Preston Earl of Rosebrook Primary School both won individual categories in the Tree Council’s ‘Speaking up for Nature’ Competition.
Ten-year-old Janna is one of Rosebrook’s Junior Tree Ambassadors and won the Ambassadors category while 11-year-old Preston landed the Upper Key Stage 2 (age 9 to 11) category.
The youngsters received their awards during a recent ceremony at The Birmingham Botanical Gardens. They were both presented with a medal, framed certificate and a book about caring for the world.
Rosebrook primary school is renowned for its commitment to nature and protecting the environment and last year was one of only 18 primary schools in the country to achieve ‘Young Tree Champion National Beacon School Status’ from The Tree Council.
In recent years the school has developed its own forest which enables pupils to participate in outdoor learning which is linked to trees and nature.
Lois Huntington, who leads on the forest school initiative at Rosebrook, said: “We are really proud of all of our pupils who entered the ‘Speaking up for Nature’ competition and are immensely proud that two of our pupils have been chosen as winners of their respective categories.
“The children’s passion for nature and desire to take action has shone through in their work and we’re proud of how deeply they care about our planet. It was fantastic for Janna and Preston to go to The Birmingham Botanical Gardens for the Force for Nature Festival and Exhibition where they performed their speeches to a live audience.”
Rosebrook is one of eight primary schools across Teesside under the umbrella of Ad Astra Academy Trust.
Chief Executive Officer Andy Brown OBE commented: “It is a significant achievement for Rosebrook pupils to win two of the categories in such a major national competition.
“We are incredibly proud of Janna and Preston, and they thoroughly enjoyed their visit to The Birmingham Botanical Gardens.”
The Tree Council is a national body that brings everyone together with a shared mission to care for trees and the planet’s future.
The other Ad Astra Academy Trust primary schools are Barnard Grove, Brougham, West Park and West View in Hartlepool, Crooksbarn in Stockton-on-Tees and Ayresome and Sunnyside in Middlesbrough.
Click the link below to listen to the BBC Radio Tees broadcast.
Lois Huntington with Speaking up for Nature winners Preston Earl (left) and Janna Oyedeji (right)
Video- Preston Earl – Speaking up for Nature winner