Thurso High School In Green Awards Final

8th May 2007

Thurso High School is one of eight schools to make it through to the final of the Big Green Challenge.

Eight schools from the Highlands and Islands are to battle it out for a coveted place in the final of the region's first debating competition tackling one of the most talked-about subjects of the 21st century - renewable energy.

The teams take to the floor in the main conference suite at Ross County Football Club on Tuesday 22nd May for the regional heats of The Big Green Challenge sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

More than 30 teams from 22 secondary schools entered the competition which began in March. Now eight have made it through to the next round where first, second and third year pupils will have their public speaking and debating skills put to the test in front of a panel of independent judges.

They will be debating the motion 'Renewable energy will always be an extra - it can never meet the country's needs.'

Schools taking part in the regional heat are Dingwall Academy, Keith Grammar, Inverness Royal Academy, Kingussie High School, Lochaber High School, the Nicolson Institute, Portree High School and Thurso High School.

Elaine Hanton, Head of Renewables at HIE says: "We've been delighted to see such enthusiasm from the children who have taken part. They have clearly put a great deal of time and effort into researching their arguments and I'm very much looking forward to hearing the debate move on in the regional finals."

Just four teams will make it through to the final being held at the state-of-the-art Centre for Health Science in Inverness on Tuesday 19th June.

The winning team head off on an all expenses paid trip to Navarre in Spain, a region which is gaining global recognition for its renewable energy know-how.

The area is home to 530,000 people - just slightly higher than the population of the Highlands and Islands - and already 61% of its energy requirements come from renewable sources.

The runners up will also be heading south on a visit to Cornwall's world famous Eden Project.