SITTING on their 'sustainable stools' enjoying their morning tea, pupils at Upper Beaconsfield Primary could not be prouder.

Last week, they took out first prize in a competition for practical and permanent structures made from recycled glass and concrete.

Art teacher Sherrin Kirby, who co-ordinated the project, says it was the school's first time in the Thiess Service's Green Dream competition and the pupils were thrilled with their $2000 prize.

"They were so excited. We had a large group involved, but there were eight main ones who came along for the whole project. It was also great to see our boys get involved. They loved it and went home really satisfied with themselves and what they had achieved."

The stools were placed in a corner of the school that "was just dirt and quite ugly", Ms Kirby says.

"Now we can use it for seating and are also planting native trees there. Earlier this year we also made clay tiles, which will be used in that area by setting them into the ground near the seats."

The pupils are keen to enter again next year.

"We are thinking of building a wall with all the rest of the recycled glass we have and that would go into another small area of the school that needs beautifying."

Thiess Services' environmental education officer, Christine Dousha, says entries this year have taken the competition to a new level.

"What began as an incentive for schools to think about using resources already available to them in creating a piece of art has now become an opportunity to make a permanent statement," she says.

"Upper Beaconsfield Primary's stools are the first entry we've had that can form part of the school's landscape and can actually be used."

Also highly commended, and in the top-three finalists, was Pakenham Springs Primary School with its Aluminium Alien sculpture.