School students proved they are 'on the Ball' when they took part in an energy saving and recycling competition.

Veteran children's television host Johnny Ball joined Slough Borough councillor Dexter Smith last week to support 30 students from five local schools as they competed in the Engineering Development Trust Industrial Cadet competition.

The event was sponsored by Colnbrook based Lakeside Energy from Waste Education Centre and the nearby Grundon Waste Management venue.

Pupils from each school were required to write a project report, create a model, design and build an exhibition stand and make a formal presentation to a panel of five independent assessors including Johnny Ball and Cllr Smith.

The team from Trevelyan Middle School in Wood Close, Windsor had developed a fun, incentivised game which encouraged students to recycle more paper and cardboard with a mufti day prize for the most successful pupils.

The judges gave the school a special mention for the way it engaged pupils with recycling.

Slough based Upton Court Grammar School’s Eco-Hearted team focused on not only reducing food waste in their school – but also diverting the remaining waste to be composted in an eco-garden. Any produce grown would contribute towards school meals. This project won The Students’ Choice Award.

Beechwood School in Long Readings Lane, Slough won the Best Overall Project Award – focused on how they could save energy around their school.  The students used a thermal imaging camera to carry out an energy audit to see where energy was being wasted – and how this could be reduced.  

Holyport College used an online software package to create 3D energy models of two of their old science block classrooms.  The college is about to build a new science block and the study group hope their energy savings and energy efficiency ideas (double glazing and solar panels) will be incorporated in to the project.