​Record numbers taking up the award scheme

New figures show an environmental scheme is getting more pupils interested in conservation than ever before.

During the last academic year the number of school students and teachers achieving a John Muir Award certificate rose to 16,500 – the highest level ever.

This compares to just over 8000 in 2011-2012, the year before the trust mapped how the John Muir Award can help to deliver the Scottish curriculum.

Over a five-year period, a total of 68,500 pupils have achieved a John Muir Award - an average of 360 every school week.

The award encourages people to engage more with their natural surroundings and is open to all ages.

The scheme now has a strong focus on inclusion with more than one in five awards achieved by pupils experiencing some form of disadvantage.

And it is now delivered in over 40% of Scotland’s secondary schools, across all 32 council areas.

Cabinet secretary for education John Swinney said: “I am very pleased to see this growth in pupils working to achieve a John Muir Award in schools. Its popularity, especially with pupils living in deprived areas, indicates that the Award is aiding improvements in literacy, numeracy, physical and mental health.”

Rebecca Logsdon, the John Muir Trust’s Scotland education manager, added: “As well as making national progress, we are also pleased at the deepening commitment of individual schools and local authorities to get young people involved with nature and the outdoors.

“We appreciate the efforts of all those who are delivering this progress in schools, including teachers, youth workers and community learning support workers. And we’d like to thank Scottish Natural Heritage and other partners for their support.”