OKEHAMPTON College has put the town on the global map — it has won a prestigious international award and 100,000 US dollars for its exceptional work to make the school more environmentally-friendly.

Principal Daryll Chapman and a team, including sixth form student Bryony Franco, travelled to Abu Dhabi to receive the award from the Queen of Jordan.

The school won the European prize in the Global High School category of the Zayed Future Energy Prize — it rewards innovation, impact, leadership and long-term vision in renewable energy and sustainability.

The award ceremony took place at the World Future Energy Summit. As well as Rania Al Abdullah, Queen of Jordan, the ceremony was attended by 100 world leaders, including French president François Hollande, president of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, and the royal family of the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Chapman said:?'When we got over there, we realised quite how big and prestigious this award is.

'The World Future Energy Summit is something that not many people will have heard of here.

'But in Abu Dhabi and across the globe, there is clearly a big push for renewable energy and sustainability. When you list the dignitaries present, you realise the scale of the prize we have won.

'This is a massive achievement for what is a relatively isolated school in our rural county of Devon. We went along knowing we were in the European top two. We were up against a top school in the Isle of Man, who had a very strong nomination for the prize, so it is a genuine surprise to have won.

'Not only is it great for the college, but it is great for Okehampton itself, and further afield. To get a prize-winner in England, when we are competing against the rest of Europe, is a big statement as a country and as a town.

'Over the years we have won a number of prestigious awards for our work here, but this is the first time we have been recognised internationally for our work. When I saw our castle logo adorned on boards and all around the conference, it made me incredibly proud.'

Year 12 student Bryony Franco has been involved with environmental projects at the college since she was 12.

She said: 'It was amazing — that seems to have become my word for the week. The whole experience was surreal, seeing all those world leaders in one place made me realise how big an achievement this is for the college.'

Over the last four years the college has installed a number of energy-saving measures to increase energy efficiency. The result has not only been a saving of around £60,000 a year on energy bills which can be spent on the curriculum, but the facilities are used for educational purposes, and the school is seen as example of good practice.

Among the innovative schemes in place at the college are a building management system used to control heating, 3,000 low-energy lights throughout the school, and 80 kilowatts of solar PV panels.

Impressive savings have also been made by installing energy meters and dials to fine-tune the college's energy use.

As well as garnering the prestige that goes with the award, set up to honour the legacy of environmental protection and concern for conservation established by the late ruler of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed, the college will receive $100,000 for its efforts.

The money will be used to install an 18-metre wind turbine and the infrastructure for a second turbine. The financial savings made through the first turbine will be used to pay for construction of the second turbine. The savings then made by both turbines together will pave the way for the college to invest in a wood pellet biomass heating system. It is hoped the combination of solar, biomass and wind power will bring the school closer to becoming carbon-neutral in the future.

To find out more about the Zayed Future Energy Prize, visit http://www.zayedfutureenergyprize.com/en/">www.zayedfutureenergyprize.com/en/