A team from an Edinburgh secondary school was narrowly thwarted in their attempt to pull off a remarkable feat by becoming the first Scottish school to win a national consumer knowledge competition for a second time.
Boroughmuir High School were beaten by just six points at the UK final of the Young Consumers of the Year competition 2008, which was contested in Bournemouth yesterday (25 June).
Victory by the team from Simon Langton Grammar in Kent means Boroughmuir were unable to emulate their success two years ago when they became the first Scottish school ever to win the award. Had they won this year, it would have been a hat trick for Edinburgh schools following Portobello High School's victory in 2007.
Boroughmuir's runner-up score in the final round of the contest yesterday was 58 points while Simon Langon Grammar's winning score topped 64 points. The other Scottish school to reach the UK finals, Holy Cross High from South Lanarkshire, were unfortunately knocked out before the final round.
Having been crowned the Scottish winners and runners-up respectively in March, teams of four pupils from Boroughmuir High School and Holy Cross High enjoyed an all-expenses trip to Bournemouth to represent their schools in the national finals as part of the annual Trading Standards Institute (TSI) conference. The second placed Boroughmuir team, which comprised Ambar Pankaj (captain), Nicola Perry, Archie MacGregor and Calum Leslie, pitted their wits against 11 other teams from across the United Kingdom for the 2008 UK Young Consumers title.
Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee, said: "Huge congratulations to all the Scottish schools for their admirable performances in these awards, and to Boroughmuir High School in particular for their success in being runners-up at the UK finals. I understand it was nip and tuck right to the end but they put up a very strong fight and should feel very proud of themselves for what they've attained. These achievements are testament to all the pupils' hard work and preparation. The benefit of consumer awareness and education cannot be overstated as it will serve these young people well throughout their adult lives."
Teams entering the Young Consumers contest are quizzed on a range of consumer-related topics, such as: Environment & Social Responsibility; Money and Credit; Food and Drink; Keeping Safe, Keeping Healthy; as well as Legal and Consumer matters.
The aim of the competition is to make all participants fully aware of their rights and responsibilities as consumers, and to give them essential life skills as they prepare for the world of work and study.
The Young Consumers competition is celebrating its 22nd birthday this year. It is run in Scotland by the City of Edinburgh Council and nationally by the Trading Standards Institute.
ENDS
Media Contact: Katie Emslie, Tel: 0131 529 2427, katie.emslie@edinburgh.gov.uk
Notes to Editors
1. For an image of the Boroughmuir High School team, contact Katie Emslie on 0131 529 2427.
