Eco Schools

What is the Eco School? Everyone works together to improve the quality of the school environment. It promotes environmental awareness as part of school life It involves teachers pupils and members of the community A stimulating environment Reducing environmental impact

How to become an Eco School  Elect an Eco Council  Carry out an environmental review  Choose 1 or 2 areas to work on  Create an action plan  Set targets  Link project to curriculum work  Measure improvements  Keep the whole school up to date  BE COMMITTED TO THE PROJECT!

Eco School Topics

* Visible problem LITTER Cleaning up the school grounds will help foster a sense of personal pride and responsibility in the pupils. Eco-schools objectives: To show that litter is an environmental issue To put a litter policy into place. To regard litter clearing as a positive environmental action-not a punishment. WASTE REDUCTION Monitoring how much waste a school creates. The 3 R’s: Reduce, re-use and re-cycle. Eco-school objectives: For pupils and teachers to understand that by minimising their waste they are contributing to the National Waste Strategy. To reduce, re-use and re-cycle To work with the local community in raising awareness.

Eco schools objectives: To raise awareness that simple actions can substantially cut down water use Raise awareness about the link between clean water and good health. TRANSPORT The eco-schools programme aims to suggest ways in which pupils, staff, communities and local government can work together to raise awareness of transport issues. It’s estimated that 1/5 of all vehicles on our roads at 8:50am are involved in school travel. Eco schools objectives: Encourage and enable children and parents to walk, cycle, and use public transport. Write and implement a School Travel Plan. Implement an effective road safety awareness programme for pupils. Water The eco-schools programme aims to help pupils understand what water really means to people and the planet.

HEALTHY LIVING Eco-schools objectives: To encourage schools to put into place a sustainable plan for being a healthy school. To demonstrate that a healthy school is one that looks holistically at issues of exercise, diet, bullying, smoking, drugs; as well as environmental issues such as pollution. SCHOOL GROUNDS Research has shown that the design and management of school grounds can have a significant impact on pupils attitudes and behaviour towards school, each other and the wider society. Including the children in the design and creation of the school grounds will allow pupils to foster a sense of ownership and therefore have more respect for their surroundings. Eco schools objectives: Encourage a sense of place Encourage schools to value their grounds as a place for pupils to play, learn and make important personal connections with the natural world. On the topic of healthy living, eco schools aim to use an holistic approach, as good health is important in all parts of living. This includes healthy eating, more exercise and equip pupils with knowledge, skills and attitudes which provide springboards to future long-term health.

* UK schools spend about £450m on energy each year. Eco school objectives: To raise awareness in the importance of monitoring energy. To show that simple, low cost measures to conserve energy can be effective and bring about significant savings. To consider using alternative sources of energy. BIODIVERSITY Eco school objectives: * Demonstrate the benefits of integrating biodiversity outcomes into an eco school’s strategy – how it will affect the quality of life of the whole school, and tie in with its other strands e.g: school grounds, health and well-being. * The energy required for heating, lighting and powering equipment in an ordinary school classroom releases about 4000 kg of CO2 every year. ENERGY An eco school can care for biodiversity by showing positive attitudes and values for the health and well being of the land and animals around them and by making choices that affect the use of natural resources.

Reward Schemes. So what are the rewards for being an Eco School? Being an Eco School Raises the profile of your school in the wider community. There are Three award Levels; Bronze Award – this is self assessed via the eco schools website, and leads to a certificate. Silver Award – is also self assessed via the website, and leads to a certificate. Green Flag – is externally assessed, and leads to a Flag and certificate. The rewards within the school are also great, with the children fostering an “increased sense of responsibility for their surroundings.” (Eco Schools Website) Making them proud of the school they are in.

Benefits of Eco-Schools The Eco-Schools programme is not just about improving the quality of the local environment. There are many reasons to get involved including: The opportunity to integrate environmental and sustainability issues into the life of school, altering the school ethos. Opportunities to deliver the Eco-schools programme through curriculum work The opportunity to raise achievement, and enhance learning styles and thinking skills. The potential for financial savings. Benefits for the community and the whole school. Access to a network of support agencies A prestigious award at Bronze, Silver or Green Flag Level Opportunities for local and national publicity. Links with other schools in the UK and across the globe

What is it like to be an eco- school? Here is a short video taken from the Eco-schools website about what it is like to be an Eco – School.

What do we do now?  Take an application form and say why you would like to be on the Eco-Council.  Each class will vote for their representative on Friday.  The Eco-Council will meet next Wednesday to begin our Environmental Review.  We will then meet at least each half term to create our action plan and begin working on our targets.

Thanks for listening!!