Robert Burns Academy pupils are set to compete in one of the nation’s biggest piping and drumming events, being held in East Ayrshire next month.

On March 12, pupils will blow up a storm at the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championship (SSPBC)in Kilmarnock, along with 120 other schools.

Entries are also now officially open for the competition’s coveted Eilidh MacLeod Endeavour Award – an award honouring the young Manchester Arena attack victim from Barra, who would have turned 18 this month from across Scotland.

The Championships was launched in 2013, as part of a nationwide drive by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT) to revive dwindling access to the instruments across schools. For more information, see thechampionships.org.uk.