Peterhead school wins national recognition in Aldi Scotland’s Great Burns Supper competition
A Peterhead school has been rewarded with a true Scottish experience after winning Aldi Scotland’s Great Burns Supper competition.
A Peterhead school has been rewarded with a true Scottish experience after winning Aldi Scotland’s Great Burns Supper competition.
Buchanhaven Primary and its P6b class impressed judges with an original Scots poem, beating competition from primary schools nationwide.
As part of their prize, pupils enjoyed a Burns Supper experience in school, complete with ‘haggis, neeps and tatties’, and a stirring performance from Julie Brinklow of Thistle Piping, creating a truly authentic Burns celebration.
The Great Burns Supper competition, run by Aldi Scotland, invited primary school classes to submit original poems inspired by Scotland’s national Bard. The initiative aims to spark creativity while encouraging young people to engage with Scotland’s rich language and heritage.
Nicola Yeats, P6b Teacher at Buchanhaven Primary, said “The pupils were absolutely ecstatic when they heard the news that they had won. I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and commitment they demonstrated throughout the project.
“We decided to enter the competition after it was recommended by a colleague, as celebrating Burns has always been a strong tradition within our school. Although they knew they had created something special, we never imagined we would win over all other entries from across Scotland.
“We believe it’s incredibly important for pupils to learn about Scotland’s history and heritage, and winning Aldi’s competition has only deepened their enthusiasm.
“The celebratory Burns Supper provided by Aldi was delicious, with some pupils even trying haggis for the first time. Complete with a bagpipe performance, it was a truly memorable reward for all their hard work and efforts.”
Each year, pupils at Buchanhaven Primary School select and perform Scottish poems for a panel of judges. Winners then take to the stage at the school’s popular “Scots Night”, where families gather for an evening of Scottish dancing, food and poetry performances.
In the lead-up to this year’s Burns Night, the class had been focusing on writing their own Scots poetry, making the Aldi challenge a natural fit. Having a national competition to work towards gave pupils an added sense of purpose and motivation, encouraging them to push themselves creatively and build confidence – even those who initially found the Scots language challenging.
Alan Leslie, Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “It has been a privilege for Aldi Scotland to provide Buchanhaven Primary’s P6 class with a Burns Supper to remember, created entirely from quality Aldi produce.
“At Aldi, we’re passionate about supporting local communities and celebrating Scotland’s traditions, so being able to bring this special experience directly into the school has been incredibly rewarding.
“We were really surprised by the outstanding entries from schools right across Scotland, which made selecting a winner no easy task. However, Buchanhaven Primary’s creativity, passion and teamwork truly stood out.
“The P6 class embraced the spirit of Burns with such imagination in their poetry, and they should be immensely proud of their achievement. It has been inspiring for all of us at Aldi to see the enthusiasm from young people across the country, proving that the legacy of our national Bard remains as strong as ever.
“Congratulations to Buchanhaven Primary and thank you to every school that took part.”
