Fife (12 September 2006) -- Thirteen local schools will benefit from science awards and home/school resource grants thanks to ExxonMobil at Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay. The grants are part of the ExxonMobil Link Schools programme which supports primary and secondary schools close to the company's operating facilities.

Each school has applied for a £1,000 science grant and a £500 home/school resource grant. Some of the innovative ideas for using the grants have included a weather station, smart boards for the classroom, resources for a young engineer's club, electronic balances and a selection of books for teaching mathematics, science and technology.

Teachers representing the schools will be presented with their awards by ExxonMobil plant manager Jan Naets on Thursday 14th September at the Fife Ethylene Plant.

Mr Naets said: "This is a great initiative that benefits many young people in the local community as well as encouraging them to take an active interest in maths, science and technology. This is just part of the overall education package that we give to our local Link Schools."

Notes to editors:

The Link Schools involved in the awards ceremony are: Beath High School, Lochgelly High School, Inverkeithing High School, Aberdour Primary School, Auchtertool Primary School, Cowdenbeath Primary School, Crossgates Primary School, Dalgety Bay Primary School, Foulford Primary School,Lochgelly South Primary School, Lochgelly West Primary School, Lumphinnans Primary School, St. Bride's Primary School.

ExxonMobil is committed to helping people understand the vital role science and technology plays in business, as well as the benefits they bring to everyday life.

One way in which we do this is through the ExxonMobil Links School programme in the UK, which we run with our partners Grounds for Learning and the Centre for Research Education and Training in Energy (CREATE). The programme provides schools around our operating sites in the UK, including the SAGE plant, with science equipment grants, environmental education expertise and practical support.

CREATE is a registered charity that was established in 1988 with funding from government & industry to promote energy efficiency in the education sector. Since that time CREATE has developed into one of the UK’s leading education organisations working with communities to deliver energy efficiency and sustainability. More at www.create.org.uk

Learning through Landscapes, known in Scotland as Grounds for Learning, is the national charity that makes it possible for children and young people to be able to enjoy the many unique opportunities and experiences that well designed, managed and used school grounds can provide. It brings children into contact with the natural world in their crucial formative years and advances their rights to enjoy and benefit from their school grounds. For more information, visit www.ltl.org.uk