OREANDA-NEWS. September 24, 2012. Leading Scottish environment charity Keep Scotland Beautiful and energy firm Scottish Hydro have announced a Ј300,000 sponsorship deal, helping secure the future of the charity’s Scottish Eco-Schools programme for the next three years on the day an East Renfrewshire high school was awarded the 1,500th Scottish Eco-Schools Green Flag.

The coveted Green Flag award is given by Keep Scotland Beautiful to recognise staff and pupils’ achievements in demonstrating an outstanding commitment to sustainability.

The flag was raised today (Wednesday 19th September) at Mearns Castle High School by Scottish Government Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages, Dr Alasdair Allan MSP. The Scottish Government has also given the Scottish Eco-Schools programme substantial funding.

Dr Allan said: "The 1,500th award of a Green Flag shows the enthusiasm our young people have shown to the Scottish Eco-Schools programme in learning about environmental sustainability. We have provided Ј450,000 for the Eco-Schools programme this year to embed understanding about sustainability in schools and the learning that contributes to the award is valuable for pupils right across Curriculum for Excellence.

"Creating an awareness and understanding of environmental and global issues helps our children and young people develop as responsible global citizens. Presenting the 1,500th Green Flag to Mearns Castle High School only two years after the 1,000th flag, illustrates the high level of commitment of pupils across Scotland on these important issues."

Last night Mr Paul Wheelhouse MSP, the Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, highlighted the Scottish Eco-Schools programme during a Holyrood debate in which Keep Scotland Beautiful’s annual National Spring Clean event was praised.

Derek A. Robertson, Keep Scotland Beautiful Chief Executive, said: "We are delighted that Scottish Hydro has chosen to support the work of Keep Scotland Beautiful and in particular our Eco-Schools programme, thus further demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and underlining their environmental credentials.

"Today is a huge milestone in our Eco-Schools programme and the staff and pupils of Mearns Castle High School deserve the highest praise for their achievements in showing their commitment to sustainability. Our sponsorship with Scottish Hydro will help secure our Eco-Schools programme for the coming years, helping other schools achieve high standards of sustainability and environmental awareness. We are also extremely grateful that the Scottish Government has continued to support the programme to the huge extent it has.

"When we visit exemplars such as Mearns Castle, the ingenuity and imagination of staff and pupils alike seldom fail to surprise us. Keep Scotland Beautiful is proud that we now link up with around 98% of Scotland’s schools, reaching and working with almost half a million pupils. This demonstrates that Scotland’s schools, teachers and schoolchildren are amongst the most environmentally aware in the world and points to a wonderful legacy as our young people adopt the role of the responsible citizens of tomorrow."

Alan Young, Managing Director, Corporate Affairs at Scottish Hydro said: "We’re committed to developing a strong community programme in Scotland. The sponsorship we have announced today will help us carry forward education and learning programmes to young people throughout Scotland. We’re looking forward to developing a long-lasting relationship with Keep Scotland Beautiful."

Mr Dean Smith, Head Teacher at Mearns Castle, said: ‘We are very proud to receive our green flag and in particular to be the recipient of 1,500th in Scotland. Our school and the schools who have received flags before us have shown commitment and determination in being more environmentally friendly in our actions.

‘The Green Flag and Eco-Schools initiative and the great deal of work carried out in schools are helping to change attitudes towards the environment and you can see new generations coming through who care more and do more for their local and global environment. I’m very proud of Mearns Castle’s achievements and of the pupils and staff who have worked so hard to gain our school the 1,500th Green Flag"