Ballyclare Primary School in Northern Ireland has won £1000 worth of prizes in the Japan Webpage Contest for Schools, a new contest organised by the Japan Foundation London, and supported by CILT.

Ballyclare students wowed the judges with their entertaining and inspiring website, which showcases a wide range of projects the school is running in collaboration with its Japanese partner school – including a pyjama walk and some fantastic storytelling.

Bearsden Primary School in Glasgow was also awarded for a website it designed off the back of an 8-week project on Japan that incorporated video game design, origami, news writing and arts & crafts.

Another runner up was South Wolds Community School in Nottinghamshire, whose website details a unique project it has set up with Loughborough University. The Musubi project aims to welcome the Japanese athletes to the UK in advance of London 2010 by involving them and the wider community in a whole range of events designed to bring together the two cultures.

Finally, Tile Hill Wood School and Language College in Coventry was rewarded for its stylish web design, useful learning resources for students, and inspirational project with pop star Suga Shikao. Students have been using Suga-san’s music to help them in their Japanese lessons, and – thanks to their video – were even able to meet him in person and welcome him to their school!

Six other schools were shortlisted for their excellent Japan-related webpages: Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Dame Bradbury’s School, Gartree Community School, James Allen’s Girls’ School, St Paul’s School, and Swavesey Village College.

One teacher at Gartree Community School said:

'I thoroughly enjoyed developing the page and it certainly gained the pupils' interest. It gave me the chance to try things out like wallwisher and make more use of glogster. I am thrilled to have been a part of the competition and feel very lucky to have been one of the shortlisted schools. An achievement for a small rural secondary modern! Thank you once again for the opportunity.'

A Presentation Evening and Award Ceremony was held on Monday 14^th June at the Embassy of Japan, to celebrate the achievements of all schools taking part in the contest.

You can see all 32 webpage entries and read about Japan-related activities in UK schools here.