SUPER school Thorntree Primary triumphed in last year’s Streets Ahead awards but they are refusing to rest on their laurels.

Pupils, parents and staff at the east end school are already gearing up for a busy year ahead – but they are still celebrating too.

Headteacher Shona Heggie beams: “Winning the best school category and the overall Streets Ahead prize was overwhelming.

“We just do the things we do because that’s what we think we should be doing - so to be recognised outside our own school community is really fantastic.

“It meant so much to us even to be nominated for a Streets Ahead awards. It’s a great campaign and the awards night is really lovely – you get to see what other schools and groups are doing across the city.

Read more: Why we are backing Streets Ahead

“There is so much fantastic work going on, we were just delighted to be part of it.”

Thorntree Primary impressed the judges because of the hard work pupils, parents and staff put in to make the school the heart of its community.

As well as organising regular litter-picks in the playground and surrounding streets, Thorntree plants bulbs at Shettleston Railway Station, takes its choir around nearby nursing homes and delivers harvest food parcels to elderly residents who live across the road.

They have a defibrillator on the premises – the only primary school in Glasgow to have one – and staff, parents and children are trained in CPR.

Parents are involved in everything from reading groups to Zumba classes and even sing in the nativity at Christmas and the school works closely with a whole raft of community organisations, from Shettleston library and Fuse café to Greenfield Care Home and Shettleston Garden Growers.

Support staff at the school are also part of the team and typically, seek no reward for their efforts – for example, Margaret Kiddie, who is a clerical assistant, breakfast club organiser and cleaner, was recently awarded the British Empire Medal for her services to education and rather than ‘having a fuss’ made of her, Margaret asked the school instead to give something to the pupils and the Margaret Kiddie Community Award Shield was born.

It’s presented each year to someone who works tirelessly on behalf of the school and staff, parent helpers and pupils have all been recipients.

Despite term having only just begun, Thorntree is already busy planning projects for the year ahead.

“We have just had brand new raised beds installed, taking our total to eight,” says Shona. “Garlic and onions are our next project – last time we harvested potatoes, carrots and green beans and made Thorntree soup.

“The litter monitors are already in action, planning clean-ups and litter picks and keeping an eye on the playground.

“We have also just been awarded our fourth green Eco flag – a brilliant achievement. Our eco-committee is up and running and everyone is very proud of them.”

The school is still buzzing with excitement following the Streets Ahead win in June.

Read more: Why we are backing Streets Ahead

“We are incredibly pleased and proud that it was one of our parents, PTA stalwart Kirsten Wilson, who nominated us for the award,” says Shona.

“It’s really great for us to know that parents think we are getting it right.

“On the night at the Winter Gardens, the kids were so excited – and when we won, they raised the roof.”

Shona adds: “We’re always telling the pupils about the importance of being part of their community, being part of Glasgow – so to bring home an award from a campaign which is about exactly that is very special.”

Schools have been at the heart of Streets Ahead since we started the campaign in 2011. Thorntree is the first school to win the overall prize at the annual awards ceremony. We know there are more great nursery, primary and secondary schools out there – so tell us about them. Get your school involved in Streets Ahead and we can help, with funding and expert advice. Email streetsahead@heraldandtimes.co.uk and tell us what your school is doing to improve its community.