More than 80 students and staff from Ballakermeen High School have taken part in ‘The Big Tidy Up’, an initiative promoted by Douglas Borough Council. The group included the boys’ choir ‘Otto’ who were raising funds to help with their forthcoming visit to perform in Bayreuth, Germany. Councillor John Skinner also came to offer help and support. They cleared litter from the school grounds.

Mrs Louise Babb, head of the school’s Hillary House and 10 students from her tutor group, suitably kitted out in special tabards and gloves and armed with litter pickers and plastic bin bags, were joined by Councillor Skinner and Headteacher Mrs Adrienne Burnett who helped collect rubbish from the area outside the School grounds. Mrs Babb said: ‘It was great to see even more students and staff take part this year. We tidied up near to the school to give something back to the local community. With over 1500 pupils at Ballakermeen it would be easy for people to blame the school for any litter, but this effort shows that our students care about keeping the area tidy.’