After months spent crossing their green fingers, children and teachers at a Hampton Hill school have been waving their hands in the air celebrating news they won a top teaching prize.

Representatives from Hampton Hill Junior School, including six student eco ambassadors, were delighted when judges declared them the most sustainable school in the capital at the regional finals of the 2009 Teaching Awards last week.

Headteacher, Bill Jerman said: “We were delighted. When we heard our name the children were so excited they all went up to get the award.

“It’s recognition for them and an understanding that other people know they do a lot in school that’s really good in this particular area.”

The St James’ Avenue school has been a shining example of sustainability to schools across London – appointing pupils as eco ambassadors to promote energy conservation to their classmates and help cut down the school’s carbon footprint.

Earlier this year, its efforts were rewarded by Richmond Council, which promised the school yearly funding after it hosted a sustainability conference involving more than 40 educational establishments – one of the first of its kind in the UK.

Mr Jerman hoped the win would be a catalyst for bigger, better and greener things.

He added: “We would like a future development in the school garden to bring horticulture much more into what we do already and bring in healthier school meals.

“We are also looking to see if we can do more with rain water harvesting. As a school this award re energises us and gives us a broader profile to get in touch with other groups.”

After the ceremony, at Central Hall, in Westminster, officials from the WWF and members of a rainforest preservation group made a beeline for the Hampton Hill gang to discuss the possibility of working together on projects.

And finger crossing at the school is set to resume as everyone there must now wait until October 25 to see whether it is deemed to be the most sustainable in the country at the national awards – being filmed by the BBC at the Theatre Royal, in Drury Lane.