A secondary school has won a $150,000 (£119,000) grant for its innovative beehive project at a global climate change conference.

Students from Northfleet Technology College in Colyer Road, Gravesend flew to the COP28 summit in Dubai last week.

The all-boys school were finalists in the Global High Schools award for Europe and Central Asia and pupils Callum and James were shortlisted for their creation of an eco-system at the school using bee hives.

It began the apiary project with several hives in their school grounds and are now working with other schools in the area to develop the network.

The Zayed Sustainability Prize (ZSP) attracted 4500 entries worldwide.

Headteacher Steve Gallears said: “It’s a great honour to win this incredibly prestigious award.

“I am immensely proud of my staff, students and the entire NTC community for working tirelessly towards this amazing achievement.”

“Winning the ZSP will secure the future of our nature reserve and allow us to move forward to the next stage of development.

“I would like to thank the Zayed Sustainability Prize for such a generous award.”

Northfleet Technology College were named the winner for its development of an onsite nature reserve, apiary and ethical entrepreneurship education scheme.

The school says the prize money will be used to further its work in the reserve and grow the apiary.

The prize-giving ceremony was connected to the COP28 meeting and was attended by Kings and heads of state from the finalist countries.

Teacher and Director of Innovation at the college Mike Jones was also shortlisted as a finalist for the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School Climate Change Challenge.

There were more 600 entries from 43 countries of which Mr Jones came second.

He said: “Education is a long-term investment in creating a sustainable society.

“We contribute to building a culture of sustainability by fostering a sense of responsibility and stewardship among students”