RAPS’ Eco Champs Welcome ‘Sweepy Dust Destroyer’

It was christened by Year 4 pupil Harry from Ramsgate Arts Primary whose Year 3 and Year 4 groups tackled the creative task coming up with a variety of eye-catching and meaningful designs and logo ideas for the super sweeper.

Thanet District Council launched the machine that is now operating across the town thanks to the creativity of one the town’s younger residents – and it arrived at the school so Harry and fellow pupils could see its smart livery.

The names of all the children involved in the project are displayed proudly on the side of the vehicle. Other names on the short list of five were The Ramsgate Healthy Helper, Muck the Luck, Clean Theme, and Meta Magnet.

The project was organised and led by the district council to involve local young people in caring for their community and to raise awareness of the importance of keeping streets clean and tidy.

During the visits, the children met council staff, and learnt how the sweeper operates. The newly-branded vehicle is now out on the roads of Ramsgate, helping keep the town’s streets clean while celebrating local creativity and community pride.

Deputy Head of School Danny Holliday said: “This was a fantastic opportunity to engage our schoolchildren with the work the council do every day.

“We are extremely proud how the children embraced the project and Harry’s design has given the new sweeper a real personality - we hope residents enjoy spotting it around Ramsgate as it helps keep the town looking its best.”

Jo Martin, Thanet Council Coastal Education Officer, visited RAPS to explain the project late last year and thanked pupils for their input. She told them at the time: “I enjoyed working with you all to create your ‘super sweeper’ logo and name, and was incredibly impressed with you all.

“There was such good listening, so much kind working together, and so many amazing, creative ideas. I really loved seeing all of your own designs for sweepers, and the logos and names you came up with.

“The sweeper is going to be an important part of keeping our environment clean. Having an eye-catching logo, and a memorable name is going to make it much better for people to notice it and to recognise it as their local street cleaning machine.

Head of School Nick Budge added: “We have ongoing initiatives centres around environmental awareness and responsibility at RAPS. Our pupils who took part in this eco-challenge demonstrated their creativity and desire to support this important project – we will certainly keep an eye out for the Sweepy Dust Destroyer in and around the town helping keep our community spic and span.”

Ramsgate Arts Primary is part of the Viking Academy Trust with its partner schools Chilton Primary in Ramsgate and Upton Juniors in Broadstairs.

**Contact Head of School Nick Budge on 01843 582847