Kincorth Academy is celebrating today after scooping the top accolade at Aberdeen City Education awards. The school was commended for its pioneering trip by senior pupils to Peru which the...

Kincorth Academy is celebrating today after scooping the top accolade at Aberdeen City Education awards.

The school was commended for its pioneering trip by senior pupils to Peru which the judges said was a "hugely ambitious and trail-blazing" project.

Around 17 youngsters visited the Atacama desert, a tropical rainforest and walked in the shadow of the Andes during the trip last December.

They also saw the plight of the homeless street children and the shanty towns, ending their tour with a visit to the Inca city of Machu Picchu.

The judges said the scale of the challenge and what was achieved was fantastic and it was a project the pupils would remember for the rest of their lives.

The adventure last night earned the school the Ace Awards shield, the John Stodter Award and £1,000 prizemoney, which were presented to two senior pupils during a ceremony at the Beach Ballroom.

Sponsored by BP and Stewart Milne Homes, the awards aim to recognise and celebrate outstanding successes and achievements in education over the past year.

Kincorth Academy was chosen from more than 180 nominations sent in by teachers, parents, pupils and other school staff, in a host of new categories introduced for this year's awards.

The judges found it extremely difficult to choose overall winners and credited the "huge amount of excellent work being done and really interesting and innovative projects going on across the city".

Second overall prize went to Kirkhill Primary's entertainment and business breakfast groups.

One group organised a breakfast event at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and the other runs regular discos at the school.

The judges said this "audacious" entry was well above many of the others. They were very impressed by the success of the breakfast, which built on the success of last year's event but went a stage further, reaching many people.

The school was presented with a trophy and £600.

Third overall prize of £400 went to Rita Peatie of Kittybrewster Primary School for an e-twinning project involving a number of countries across Europe.

Pam MacDonald, convener of the council's education and leisure committee, was among the judges.

She said: "Congratulations to all the winners. We were very impressed by the extremely high standard of many of the entries, which were interesting and creative, and is great to see that there is so much excellent work going on across the city."

Among the guest presenters was international curler Jackie Lockhart.

Entertainment was provided by Harlaw Academy jazz band and Kaimhill School handchimes band, with a special finale courtesy of the Torry Academy rock challenge team.

Winners and commended entries in all categories were:

ICT Award: Hanover Street School Productions (creating a DVD charting their move to temporary accommodation at Linksfield). Commended - pupil Scott Gardner and the Visual Support Service, Oldmachar Academy. Dawn Davidson and class at Airyhall Primary (creating a DVD).

School Ethos Award: Torry Academy (creative and performing arts project). Commended - Erin Park and Angela Mackay, Oldmachar Academy (creating a memorial garden). Bankhead Academy's Pupil Council (healthy eating initiatives).

Award for Looking after the Environment: Tullos Primary Eco-Council (project to tackle dog fouling). Commended - Hazlehead Academy's recycling and transport committees. Bankhead Academy's environment group.

Raising Achievement Award: Rita Peatie, Kittybrewster School (e-twinning project). Commended - Athol Garden, head teacher at Bankhead Academy (various schemes, such as It's Cool to Succeed).

Inclusion Award: Margaret Clark, Kittybrewster School (Family Learning work). Commended - Samantha Summers, Sunnybank School (work with children with hearing difficulties).

Working with Others Award: Kincorth Academy's Peru trip. Commended - Oldmachar Academy/Northfield Academy/ Aberdeen Grammar School ('Looking Good, Feeling Good, Fit for Success' partnership project with NHS Grampian). Charleston School Eco-Group (general work and links with community and Transocean).

Healthy Living Award: Stoneywood School (health work including increasing PE time). Commended - Ainsley Farquhar and Jane Gawthorpe, Oldmachar Academy (health promotion work).

Education Supporter Award: Anne Morrison, Hazlehead Primary (working with children on ICT).

Inspirational Teacher Award: Miss Susan Anderson, St Machar Academy pupil support base. Commended - Jenny Brown, Angela Carroll and Derek Thompson, Bankhead Academy, maths, chemistry and physics departments.

Curriculum Innovation Award: Hazlehead Academy (early education and childcare project). Commended - German project (language classes at several schools). Torry Academy (vocational training in hairdressing).

There was also a special series of Aberdeen Determined to Succeed Enterprise Awards, which will reward outstanding achievements in enterprise in education. These categories are:

Enterprise in the Curriculum Award: Secondary - Hazlehead Academy (early education and childcare project). Primary - Kirkhill Nursery and Primary (Business Breakfast event and world of work programme at nursery level). Commended - Hanover Street School's Safe Movers scheme (transition to new accommodation). Danestone Primary School (range of enterprise projects).

Award for Business Links: Hazlehead Academy/AMEC Education Industry Partnership. Commended - Bankhead Academy and Dyce Academy/Aberdeen Airport Vocational Training Programme. Kirkhill School/Raeburn Christie Clark and Wallace Education Industry Partnership

Award for Parental Involvement in Enterprise in Education: Home School Teacher and P1 pupils at Tullos School (literacy work).

Enterprising Pupil(s) Award: Kimberley Robinson, Hazlehead Academy (drama work with younger pupils). Commended - Reading Bus Primary Enterprise Committee 2006. Erin Park, Robyn Barlow, Jennifer Mouncey, Nicola Smith, Stephanie Sangster, Oldmachar Academy (fashion show).