Enterprising kids emerged triumphant from a ‘Dragons’ Den’ challenge in East Ayrshire Council Chambers – having impressed top judges with their creative designs.

BBC Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark and famous Scots sculptor Andy Scott were among luminaries who came to Kilmarnock to assess the talents of local pupils – and award prizes. Media consultant and ex-BBC correspondent John Morrison chaired the event.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, said: “I am continually impressed by the creativity and skills of so many young people in our schools – and this Interaction Challenge highlights that.

“Kilmarnock has also just won the Creative Place award, which is further evidence of the level of imagination and talent blooming in East Ayrshire”.

So impressed was former Kilmarnock girl Kirsty that she awarded the prize for best presentation to Loudoun Academy’s team of Angus Kerr, Dylan Speir, Ewan Cochrane, James Clements and Sam McVey  (all S3) for their presentation about the structure they had designed to sell products made in school.

Kirsty said: “I was very impressed with their terrific focus on customers and their good clear film about the process. There are several young people here who could have a future in television”.

Prize for best model was awarded by Andy Scott to James Hamilton Academy’s team – Rebecca Mackie, Aimee McCabe, Hayley McMillan, Danielle Murray, Sophie Smith, Natalie Waddell – for a “really funky design”.

Fellow judge Alan Hooper, of the Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art (GSA), also commended their forward-looking use of cardboard which he said was being pioneered by Japanese architects designing earthquake-proof buildings.

Michael Breen, depute principal of Kilmarnock College, awarded a prize for partnership working to two schools – St Joseph’s Academy, Kilmarnock and Doon Academy, Dalmellington.

St Joseph’s had worked on a ‘Cook School to go’ for Braehead Foods/Cook School Scotland and had taken many of their partners’ ideas into account.

Doon Academy was commended for an idea which had ‘great potential’. Their design was for tepees to create a camping and leisure area for visitors around Loch Doon and the new Dark Sky Observatory, to promote tourism and outdoor activities.

Prizes at this stage of the project, for designs in development, are experiences, rather than awards. All nine new structures will be realised by summer – and an overall winner decided.

The Loudoun team won a visit to BBC HQ in Glasgow where they will meet programme producers, while James Hamilton pupils will spend a day at Andy Scott’s amazing warehouse studio in Glasgow, where the sculptor develops huge public art installations.

St Joseph’s and Doon pupils will get the chance to have input into the interior design of ‘the hive’ – a social area for students on the planned new £50 million Kilmarnock College campus.

Alan Hooper invited all teams to GSA for a tour of the famous Mackintosh building and a presentation of the design for the new GSA building designed by world famous architect Steven Holl.

The Interaction project – brainchild of David Ross, Design Director of Keppie Design – called for students in the nine East Ayrshire academies to create and build structures to use to sell enterprise products.

David Ross said: ‘The initiative was born out of a determination to enrich the creative educational experiences of young people in East Ayrshire and to promote connections and partnerships with local business and the wider learning spectrum.

“We co-ordinated a first-rate judging panel of people who share this vision, including leading broadcaster and former pupil of Kilmarnock Grammar School, Kirsty Wark and Andy Scott, whose iconic sculptures can be seen from Cumbernauld to Chicago.

“They brought a diverse range of expertise to ensuring the pupils’ hard work was given serious consideration.”

Councillor Stephanie Primrose, Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, said: “Congratulations to all the pupils who took part– and thanks to our expert judges for taking time out of their busy schedules for this important event in our education calendar”.

Councillor Douglas Reid added: “A key strategic priority for the Council is to raise educational attainment and equip our young people for the world of work. With the strong backing of mentors and business leaders local and national, we are well on the road to achieving this aim”.

7 February 2.00 pm http://bit.ly/WSqIcE

This 45 min Glow meet will share how to explore and create digital stories using beautiful artwork.