Moray school receive double-science award

A Moray school has received a double award for being top in science for the whole of Scotland.

Hopeman Primary was honoured by the Young Engineers and Science Clubs Scotland.

Its after-school science club was also voted the best, beating up to 900 other similar groups across the country.

The youngsters came top in a science-based challenge to manoeuvre a ping pong ball in various ways.

One of the five tasks asked them to design a parachute so the ball would fall to the ground as slowly as possible.

Teacher Amy Marshall said: “The children tested all sorts of material before finally deciding that a clear plastic bag worked best.

“They put a lot of work into all the tasks. I know that it was their understanding of the science behind everything that really impressed the judges.”

The youngsters also scored top marks for thinking up how a waterwheel could produce electricity in the most effective manner.

Their ingenious response was to put the wheel in a sewer with a specially designed drop.

The twin benefits meant the device would be powered by a constant stream of fast moving water, while also being out of sight from the public.