A BARRHEAD schoolgirl has proved she is a class act by winning a lockdown essay competition.

Fifteen-year-old Erin Love secured top prize in the contest organised by the Scottish Association of the Teachers of History (SATH).

Youngsters across Scotland were asked to submit an essay detailing what they think future historians should remember about the unprecedented circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The pupils also had the choice to write about how they thought their local area has changed over time and/or how conflict has changed the area they live in.

Erin, who is a S4 pupil at Barrhead High, impressed judges with her ability to link contemporary issues with the past, in a coherent and effective way.

She told the Barrhead News: “I was looking to challenge myself during lockdown and I really enjoy history.

“When I heard about this competition, I thought I would give it a go. I couldn’t believe that I was selected as the winner for my age category.

“This has raised my confidence and I am certainly thinking that I may want to study history in the future.”

The annual competition went ahead this year despite the coronavirus pandemic, with the aim of encouraging youngsters to combine their flair for creative writing with an interest in history.

Support for the contest was provided by Historic Environment Scotland, National Museums Scotland and Bright Red Publishing.

Fiona Johnston, acting headteacher at Barrhead High, is full of praise for Erin, who is being tipped for a bright future.

She said: “We are delighted with Erin’s success in the SATH lockdown essay competition.

“It’s a fantastic achievement to win this national competition and it demonstrates her excellent literacy skills and history knowledge.”

SATH provides a forum for history teachers at Scottish schools to comment on developments in education, share new ideas and resources and provide training.

For more information about the work it does, visit www.sath.org.uk.