WINNER: New Earswick Primary School

Runners-up: Yearsley Grove Primary School, Haxby Road Academy.

THE judges said they can see that all three of the shortlisted projects made a difference to their school and their environment.

They were impressed with the ambitious changes made in Haxby Road Academy’s project to get children active – and loved to hear of the gasp that swept through the assembly hall when the children were first told they would be staying at school for an extra hour each day.

Yearsley Grove’s Tour de France-inspired cycling revolution was commended for the long term health benefits it has brought pupils, but it was New Earswick Primary School project's which judges thought had made the most difference to the environment.

Pupils have not just got their hands dirty cleaning up the village, but they have even tackled their older brothers and sisters at the secondary school over the mess some left on the village green.

Headteacher Carole Dickson said the project had been really well supported by people in the village, and had made a long-lasting difference to the area.

She added: "We have been absolutely delighted with the support from the village, and our secondary school Joseph Rowntree, and we want to say a big thanks to them.

"I think there's a greater awareness now amongst the children that there is something they can do about litter."