SCHOOLS have been at the heart of Streets Ahead since the start of the Evening Times' campaign.

Kind-hearted pupils have planted, weeded, litter-picked and worked hard to make their playgrounds and communities cleaner and safer places for all.

We want to hear from more nursery, primary, secondary and ASL schools in Glasgow as the fourth year of our campaign picks up steam.

If you are looking for inspiration, take a leaf out of Ibrox Primary's book. The school, which has 180 pupils, is passionate about the environment.

So many pupils wanted to join its Eco Committee a separate Eco Squad had to be set up to allow more children to get involved. About 50 pupils play their part - and numbers are still rising.

Principal teacher Fiona Young said: "Everything we have achieved has happened because of the children.

"They are very passionate about the environment, not just about energy efficiency, but also their surroundings. They are so enthusiastic, and work really hard."

Pupils run regular litter-picks, take part in after-school gardening clubs and work closely with residents and businesses, such as Elderpark Housing Association, Elder Farm Community Garden and Asda Govan.

They also helped to create the Flower Field, a community garden across the road from the school, on disused wasteland.

Martha Nolan, housing officer for Elderpark Housing Association, said: "Our estates officer Jim Fraser worked closely with the children from Ibrox Primary to create the garden and he has done a fantastic job for the community.

"This was just a dumping ground before and now it is beautiful - somewhere everyone can enjoy."

Staff and pupils at the school also triumphed in our recent British Gas Generation Green competition, which awarded up to £100,000 for energy efficiency measures in a Glasgow school.

Mrs Young said: "Our support assistant Charlene Wilson spotted the Streets Ahead article about British Gas Generation Green, and kept reminding us to enter - we are so glad she did. We have also had brilliant support from our janitors, John Gemmell and Ian MacInnes.

"The main reason for entering was our heating system. We are one of only a handful of schools left in Glasgow using coal and it can be a nightmare.

"One side of the building can be freezing, while the other is tropical.

"It's also not great for the environment to have black smoke coming out of the chimney.

"Thanks to Streets Ahead and British Gas Generation Green, and the support of Glasgow City Council, we are going to have a whole new, energy efficient heating system, so we are all delighted about that."

In the playground, the Eco Committee and Eco Squad are out in force washing chalk off the tarmac and tidying up the planters in preparation for autumn.

Mya El-daly, 10, who is a P7 representative on the Eco Committee, said: "It has been really good learning about gardening and how to plant flowers. The playground looks brilliant now and we have also worked hard in the garden across the road."

Eco Squad member Thea Fordyce, 9, said: "Before the Flower Field, that bit of land was just full of rubbish. Now it's lovely and the people who look out over it from the flats above are really happy."

Amrita Kaur, 10, who is also on the Eco Squad, said; "Picking up litter is important because it makes the streets a lot tidier and cleaner and that makes everyone proud to live here."

Is your school Streets Ahead?

Tell us what you are doing to improve life in your community and we will include you in our campaign.

E-mail streetsahead@heraldandtimes.co.uk or call 0141 302 6555.