DUNBAR Grammar School has a new head boy and head girl.

Kirsten Fell and Oisin Strachan were selected to take on the roles just before the school broke up for the summer holidays.

Both teenagers were honoured to have been selected, having won over fellow senior pupils and staff.

Kirsten, from Spott, explained that the position of head girl was a role she had been keen on for a number of years.

She said: “I really wanted to give something back to the school.

“I’ve got a lot out of it and felt I could make a change for the better and give something back after all the school has given me.

“I’m good friends with Lottie Hirons (who was the school’s head girl last year) and had been speaking to her and she was telling me to go for it.

“I had a chat with Lottie and Andrew Bell (last year’s head boy) about the basic roles we will have and if they had any advice.” The 17-year-old, who is studying Advanced Higher modern studies and English, as well as Higher drama, has already been involved with a number of schemes in the school.

One of those was the creation of a breakfast club at the school every Wednesday morning.

Kirsten, involved with a group called the Peacejammers, set up the group to ensure pupils had a healthy start to the day.

S1-S3 pupils are offered a variety of foods, ranging from cereal, breakfast bars and toast through to milkshakes, tea, coffee and fruit juice.

Kirsten was keen to see the school develop further links with the community.

She said: “My main aim is to improve community links in Dunbar and the school through various forms.

“I’ve already been involved with the breakfast club, which involves the Rotary Club, but [it would be good to] get the Dunbar community involved, maybe through employment and getting people coming into the school to speak about their jobs.” The campaign trail for the new head boy and head girl got under way last month, with S6 pupils putting their names forward.

Then, they had to give a speech in front of S5 and S6 pupils to give them an idea what they would look to achieve if they were elected to the role.

A problem-solving task was then carried out in a group to show how they would interact with other people, before an interview took place with two teachers and two pupils.

Finally, the candidates had to go before Paul Raffaelli, the school’s headteacher, and the outgoing head boy and girl.

Oisin, who is studying Advanced Higher physics and technological studies, as well as Higher graphic communications, said: “I have really enjoyed my previous roles as both a prefect and as a house captain, and overall really like being on the interface between staff and students.” The 16-year-old, from the town’s Kellie Place, spoke to his predecessors about the role and was keen to build on their good work.

He added: “They said to me that this year is going to take a lot of effort and be hard work, but that the most important thing was to enjoy the experience, and enjoy working with Kirsten!

“The main thing I want to achieve this year is to leave at the end knowing that I made a positive difference to the school.”