A Croydon youngster has scooped £100 for her primary after designing a winning poster as part of a council-backed schools awareness campaign on air pollution.
After a series of lessons last year about how individuals can help improve air quality, over 200 pupils from schools across Croydon were encouraged to enter a poster competition run by sustainability think-tank London Sustainability Exchange and backed by Croydon Council and other London boroughs.
During a special surprise assembly on Monday morning at Oasis Academy Byron in Coulsdon, year 5 pupil Jada Kelly’s picture of a car with the slogan ‘Stop Polluting’ was announced as the best entry in the borough. Croydon Council’s cabinet member for transport and environment Councillor Stuart King presented Jada with the £100 cheque for her school, a winner’s certificate and a banner that includes winning entries from each participating borough, including hers.
Jada, aged 10, designed her poster after air quality lessons in school, which included using diffusion tubes to measure nitrogen dioxide levels in nearby roads and fields. She said: “I was so surprised to win, and I’m so happy I’m shaking. I think cars are the biggest problem with air pollution so I wanted people to think more about them.”
“I’m pleased that Jada’s simple but effective design is a winner because London’s air quality will improve if more drivers are convinced to turn their engines off in traffic queues or take public transport more often.
“Children are crucial ambassadors in getting family and friends to do their bit for the environment, so I’m proud of Jada and every other Croydon pupil who entered this competition.”
Councillor Stuart King, cabinet member for transport and environment
Oasis Academy Byron assistant principal James Norris, whose school uses public transport for all class trips to limit its impact on the environment, said: “Jada worked extremely hard on producing a picture that was colourful, engaging, simple and gets the message out.”
The other Croydon schools that took part were Woodside Primary, St Cyprian’s Greek Orthodox Primary Academy and Monks Orchard Primary School.
