The competition aimed to engage pupils in polar science and foster creativity. Laila’s winning design stood out, earning her the honour of having her creation represent Antarctica.

Accompanying the flag to Antarctica is James Veale, a drilling engineer actively involved in the Beyond EPICA project. This ambitious project involves drilling ice cores, some dating back over 100,000 years, with a goal of reaching depths of 2800m to uncover ice that is over a million years old.

The ice cores collected as part of the Beyond EPICA project provide a unique window into Earth's climate history. The analysis of ice and the air trapped within it offers valuable insights into climate conditions hundreds of thousands of years ago. Understanding the Earth's climate from over a million years ago is crucial in predicting and preparing for future climate changes.

The accompanying photos reveal deep fieldwork around the Beyond EPICA project, showcasing the rigorous efforts of researchers. Using skidoos, GPS, and radar equipment, the team drives miles away, sets up equipment, collects data overnight, and retrieves it the next morning. This process allows them to measure the movement of ice over the land, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of polar ice dynamics.

Laila added "It was a complete surprise to find out my flag had been chosen to represent the school, and it had been sent all the way to Antarctica. My inspiration for the design was animals in the ecosystem and I wanted a bright design which represented the sunrise and the opportunities that come each day."

Mr Haylett-Brooks, Teacher of Geography added:

"Laila's design really stood out amongst many exceptional entries and incorporated work from the ecosystem unit she had been studying in Geography. It is fantastic to see the work pupils have produced being seen over 15,000Km from Manchester."