Win books a spot in national final
A group of young people from Ayr Academy have been crowned South Ayrshire’s Young Consumers of the Year ( SAYCY).
The winning team now go through to the Scottish finals in Edinburgh next year, with high hopes of taking the national title.
The SAYCY competition, organised nationally by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, is aimed at young people aged 14 to 17 from schools, colleges and youth groups in Scotland, England and Wales. Students are tested on a wide range of issues including consumer law, food and health, safety and the environment, money and finance, Europe and travel.
Ayr Academy pipped nearest rivals Girvan Academy to the post in a close run race. Ayr has a successful history in the competition with previous teams claiming the Scottish crown and being runners- up in the UK final, both in 2015. The Ayr Academy team will now go on to represent South Ayrshire in the Scottish final in March 2017 at the Scottish Parliament.
Headteacher at Ayr Academy, Lyndsay McRoberts, said the result was great for the whole school.
She said: “I’m extremely proud of the team who are an absolute credit to the school, and I’d like to thank them for all their hard work in getting this far.
“The Young Consumer Competition fits well in the Scottish curriculum and supports the four capacities of education as highlighted in the Curriculum for Excellence – successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.”
The team members were S5 pupils Heather Devaney, Robert Walker , Amy MacDonald, Stephanie McFadzean and Maia Wilson.
Heather was captain of the winning team and said that getting involved had been worthwhile.
She said: “Taking part in the Young Consumer competition has been an exciting and valuable experience both for myself and the team.
“Our confidence has grown, we’ve developed a great team spirit, and in a short space of time we’ve learnt so much about consumer law, safety and the environment, money and credit, Europe, and travel and food and health. Girvan Academy were excellent competition and it was very close towards the end.
“We’re now looking forward to the Scottish Final at the Scottish Parliament.”
Councillor John McDowall, South Ayrshire Council’s sustainability and environment spokesman, added: “Ayr Academy has a great track record in this competition and I wish them the best of luck as they take their expertise to the Capital to take part in the national final.
“The South Ayrshire Consumer of the Year competition offers all of our secondary schools the opportunity to take part in this worthwhile event, which brings people together and builds team spirit.
“I’d like to thank everyone who got involved this year, as it’s your enthusiasm and hard work that make the contest such a worthwhile annual event.”
S3 pupils have been working with PC Brizell and Angie McPike from Women’s Aid to learn about the White Ribbon campaign which aims to raise awareness of domestic abuse/ violence.
This is also to raise awareness of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is not an anti- male campaign – this is about creating space for more positive, healthy ways to be a man.
Throughout October and November, the choir and a few of the S2 elective pupils gathered gifts to be put into the Christmas boxes. The pupils provided the shoe boxes and a great deal of time and effort was put into decorating and filling the boxes. Jodie and Isabel McFarlane from Night Before Christmas Charity came into school and were presented with 11 boxes from the choir.
Congratulations to Gregor Morris, Olivia Cosgrove, Elisha Brackenridge and Flynn Taylor ( all S1) who were the interdisciplinary learning soap label competition winners. Pupils made soap using moulds in the science department then designed labels in art; the soap was available for purchase during the annual Christmas concert. Bags of soap were available for sale during S1 classes.