A SCHOOL in Dorchester is celebrating bagging a prestigious national award for its work to slash the use of single-use plastics and help the environment.

Damers First School, in Poundbury, has won an Education Business Award, which celebrate the dedication and hard work of teaching and support staff across the UK.

The awards, sponsored by LocknCharge, have been recognising and celebrating school success stories since 2006 - and this year were presented during online by award-winning comedy impressionist Jess Robinson and voiceover artist Darren Altman.

Damers First School won the Environmental Practice Award for engaging the whole community including businesses, schools, charity organisations and Dorchester Town Council in helping Dorchester achieve Surfers against Sewage Plastic Free Community Status.

Pupils have signed up 90 businesses so far, ensuring they remove at least three single use plastics or find alternatives.

Edd Moore, Eco Co-ordinator said, “We are very proud to have won this national award for our environmental work that is led so passionately by the children.

"To have inspired so many businesses, charity groups, schools and Dorchester Town Council is a testament to their enthusiasm and hard work in reducing single use plastic across Dorchester.

As part of their efforts, Damers took part in the National Youth Climate Virtual Summit - hosting the Pollution, Waste and Travel day which was shown across the UK and the world.

The children showcased a film called Zero to Eco Heroes which followed their journey over the past eight years of their Eco Schools journey.

They hope it will inspire other schools to teach their children about how to look after their environment for a better future and help to become a Zero Carbon School by 2030.

One of their pupils also represented the school at a Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots European meeting that was attended by representatives from Spain, Holland, Austria, Turkey, Germany and Switzerland as well as Dr Jane Goodall - considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees - herself.

She made a powerpoint and talked about the work she and the school are doing to help animals, people, the environment and the local community.

Sponsoring the awards this year were LocknCharge, Emotional Logic, PFU - a Fujitsu Company, Office Depot, Randstad Education, TG Escapes, and Churches Fire & Security.