Over the Summer, we were delighted to receive confirmation that we have been awarded Eco-Schools ‘Green Flag’ accreditation.
Getting this has been a very demanding process, involving a detailed action plan, evidence of our commitment to sustainability and of the impact of our actions. We have also had to demonsrate that learning about sustainable development is an embedded aprt of our curriculum. The process has had to involve ‘pupil voice’ and has been led by our Transform Parliament Reps, School Council, an Eco-Committee and two key members of staff; Mrs Howe and Mrs Hutchins.
At the start of last year, the Trust set out to get schools working towards this with the objective of schools being accredited in a year or two. We have gone ‘all out’ on this and put it at the heart of our School Improvement Plan for last year. We are delighted to be the first school to gain the accreditation, well ahead of schedule!
We are proud of this achievement and thrilled to have recognition. Environmental issues matter a great deal to our children – it’s their world. It is something brought by children to the the agenda of almost every School Council meeting. It is also part of the Transform Children’s Charter, developed by the children on Transform Parliament and accepted by Trustees and Heads, that children expect their schools to operate as sustainably as possible.
We will, of course, continue to do more to make our school as green as it can be. The next phase of this is likely to be around more energy efficient lighting and a continued drive to reduce use of plastics.
If you’d like to know more about the Eco Schools progamme and what we have had to do to be accredited, there is lots of information here: https://www.eco-schools.org.uk/about/what-is-eco-schools/