Pupils are put in the picture about family life

Jun 25 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

PUPILS at a West Lothian school scored a massive haul when they took part in a national competition.

Children from Knightsridge Primary in Livingston, took part in Relationships Scotland’s My Family design competition.

And the youngsters’ efforts saw them pick up 20 awards.

Relationships Scotland invited primary school children from all over Scotland to make a picture with the title, ‘My Family’.

Thousands of entries were submitted, and prizewinners were chosen to form a travelling exhibition to mark Families Day 2009.

The pupils were presented with their prizes at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, June 18, by broadcaster and journalist Kaye Adams.

Andrew Miller, executive councillor for education, said: “Apparently, one school might have more than one winner, but this year, after an anonymous judging process, the judges were astonished to find that no less than 20 of the prizewinning pictures came from Knightsridge.

“The pupils are over the moon and thoroughly enjoyed their trip to the Scottish Parliament to receive their prizes. It is obvious how much work the children have put into this competition, and a great tribute to their school and their art teacher, Rebekah. They should all be very proud.”

The prizes are presented in three age groups – 4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12.

Thirty prizes in total are presented and the three age-group winning pictures are turned into free postcards for Families Day, which are being distributed by Ikea in Edinburgh.

Two of the postcards have been designed by Knightsridge pupils, which will accompany the exhibition.

Relationships Scotland's chief executive, Stuart Valentine, said: "Relationships Scotland provides counselling, family mediation and family support across Scotland, and because of the nature of its work we are well aware of the wide diversity of families. We want people to be able to celebrate their family, no matter how it is made up.”