Pupils and staff at an Aberdeen school are now enjoying a breath of fresh air thanks to a new anti-smoking policy.
Bucksburn Academy is the first school in the city to implement a “smoke free” policy covering its whole campus.
It means lighting up is now banned on all of the school grounds.
The policy was delivered jointly by NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City Council.
All Scottish local authorities will be required by the Scottish Government to implement smoke free across their buildings and surrounding grounds this year.
PE teacher Fiona Leslie, 53, said the policy was not about “telling off” smokers – but rather helping them to quit.
She said: “It is only a very small percentage of pupils that smoke at the school anyway but the new policy is about maybe giving those that do a nudge in the right direction to quit.
“We will have permanent and prominent signage throughout the school grounds reminding people that it is a smoke free zone.”
The campus has four separate facilities – Bucksburn Academy, Bucksburn Library, Bucksburn Swimming Pool and the Beacon Centre.
The policy applies to all people using the sites including staff, pupils, customers, visitors, contractors and hirers of the building.
NHS health improvement officer Irene Fraser, 61, added that she hoped that there would be a “change of attitudes” following the ban.
She said: “It’s not good enough to just say that smoking is bad – there has to be education to go with it.
“A lot of pupils perhaps don’t use smoking cessation services because they are worried their parents will find out they smoke.
“If they want to stop then they can see the school nurse or a guidance teacher in confidence.”