The grant of £2,148 will be used by the school to buy equipment to help study the degradation of novel plastics produced from renewable resources. The project is called ‘Green plastics versus water: A degradation study’.

Dr Buchard said: “I’m excited at the prospect of getting increasing numbers of younger students involved in hands-on scientific research about sustainability.”

The Royal Society offers grants of up to £3,000 for science projects run at schools or colleges in partnership with a professional scientist or engineer. Since 2000 more than £1.3million has been invested in nearly 800 schools.