Whitnash Primary School

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Eco-School

We have been awarded a coveted Eco-Schools Green Flag

We have earned an international accreditation this academic year, recognising our amazing work in making our school more environmentally friendly and raising eco-awareness in fellow pupils.

We first formed an Eco-Committee, then collaborated with Mrs Henshaw to conduct an environmental review, assessing how eco-friendly our school is. We reviewed everything from biodiversity within our school grounds to how pupils and staff members travel to school. Building on our findings, together with Mrs Henshaw we then planned a year of action designed to advance our school’s green credentials, improve our local environment, and protect our planet.

We have earned an international accreditation this academic year, recognising our amazing work in making our school more environmentally friendly and raising eco-awareness in fellow pupils.

The Eco-Committee has connected the work to three Eco-Schools topics: Biodiversity, School Grounds and Energy. We then planned a variety of projects including Wear it Wild, Black out Friday and Environmental week based around environmentally themed books.

Eco-Schools England Manager, Adam Flint, said: “The Eco-Schools Green Flag award is an internationally recognised symbol of high environmental standards. The pupils and school staff that earn the award deserve immense credit for their hard work, determination, and creativity. Their passion for protecting our planet is an inspiration to us all.”

Given the escalating environmental crisis,

it is strongly felt that we are doing our school, children, community and planet a disservice by not promoting the right education to address this serious issue.

Furthermore, it is no longer acceptable

to ignore the negative impact

schools have on the environment.

Schools generate a great deal of waste, and given the urgency of the nvironmental crisis, it is no longer sustainable for business to continue as usual.

Change is needed.

For many years Whitnash has tried

to develop an Eco School and due to other

priorities, it is often pushed aside.

Given the heighten news coverage, COP26

and young people’s involvement in the

environmental campaign, our school aims to ensure that environmental awareness is firmly injected into the heart of our school Improvement agenda and the curriculum.

In an Ofsted report back in 2010,

Ofsted stated,

‘We want to ensure that the providers we inspect and regulate are contributing to a sustainable future’.

The Department of Education also states it is committed to sustainable development

and believe it is important to prepare

young people for the future. In addition, being a sustainable school is argued to raise standards and enhance young people’s wellbeing. Therefore, by raising the profile of environmental issues and having the high expectation that such

issues remain a key focus of our work

will also enhance any judgements

made of our school in the future.

We have earned an international accreditation this academic year, recognising our amazing work in making our school more environmentally friendly and raising eco-awareness in fellow pupils.

Given the escalating environmental crisis, it is strongly felt that we are doing our school, children,

community and planet a disservice by not promoting the right education to address this serious issue. Furthermore, it is no longer acceptable to ignore the negative impact schools

have on the environment. Schools generate a great deal of waste, and given the urgency of the environmental crisis, it is no longer sustainable for business to continue as usual.

Change is needed.

For many years Whitnash has tried to develop an Eco School and due to other priorities,

it is often pushed aside. Given the heighten news coverage, COP26 and young people’s involvement in the environmental campaign, our school aims to ensure that environmental awareness is firmly injected into the heart of our school Improvement agenda and the curriculum.

In an Ofsted report back in 2010, Ofsted stated,

‘We want to ensure that the providers we inspect and regulate

are contributing to a sustainable future’.

The Department of Education also states it is committed to sustainable development and believe it is important to prepare young people for the future. In addition, being a sustainable school is argued to raise standards and enhance young people’s wellbeing. Therefore, by raising the profile of environmental issues and having the high expectation that such issues remain a key focus of our work will also enhance any judgements made of our school in the future.

What is Eco-Schools?

Eco-Schools is the largest sustainable schools programme in the world.

It is an international award programme that guides schools on their sustainable journey, providing a framework to help embed these principles into curriculum and the heart of school life.

Through the award system it provides a framework which helps schoolsto recognise good environmental practice and identify areas they need to improve on.

As Eco-Schools we are able to enjoy and share many benefits which include:

Enhancing our school curriculum
Linking with the community and sharing our sustainable expertise
Improving our school and its environment
Saving money through energy saving and other sustainable activities
Receiving recognition and publicity for our sustainable achievements

Given the escalating environmental crisis, it is strongly felt that we are doing our school, children, community and planet a disservice by not promoting the right education to address this serious issue. Furthermore, it is no longer acceptable to ignore the negative impact schools have on the environment. Schools generate a great deal of waste, and given the urgency of the environmental crisis,

it is no longer sustainable for business to continue as usual. Change is needed.

For many years Whitnash has tried to develop an Eco School and due to other priorities, it is often pushed aside. Given the heighten news coverage, COP26 and young people’s involvement in the environmental campaign, our school aims to ensure that environmental awareness is firmly injected into the heart of our school Improvement agenda and the curriculum.

In an Ofsted report back in 2010, Ofsted stated,

‘We want to ensure that the providers we inspect and regulate are contributing to a sustainable future’.

Therefore, by raising the profile of environmental issues and having the high expectation that such issues remain a key focus of our work will also enhance any judgements made of our school in the future.

Whitnash Primary School is becoming

more environmentally active

through a cross-curriculum approach

and the Eco-school programme

as we endeavour and aim to:

Include and engage staff, governors, pupils, parents and the local community in a commitment to improve the world today for tomorrow's children.
Share good practice with pupils, parents and the community thus encouraging them to adopt the initiatives.
Promote food and drink themes of their healthy eating schemes, improve school catering, reduce food and related waste and promote health awareness.
Conserve and monitor the use of energy and water.
Improve the local well-being of the wider community through their website and regular education for sustainable development related days or weeks of education and action.
Promote awareness of climate change through cross curricular activities and share the responsibility with the wider community for promoting and practising policies which show concern and care for the future of the global environment.

What is Eco-Schools?

Eco-Schools is the largest sustainable schools programme in the world. It is an international award programme that guides schools on their sustainable journey,providing a framework to help embed these principles into curriculum and the heart of school life.

Its mission is to help make every school become sustainableand to bring about behaviour change in young people and those connected to them so that good habits learned in schools are followed through into homes and communities.Through the award system it provides a framework which helps schoolsto recognise good environmental practice and identify areas they need to improve on.

As Eco-Schools we are able to enjoy and share many benefits which include:

Enhancing our school curriculum
Linking with the community and sharing our sustainable expertise
Improving our school and its environment
Saving money through energy saving and other sustainable activities
Receiving recognition and publicity for our sustainable achievements

Whitnash Primary School is becoming more environmentally active through a cross-curriculum approach and the Eco-school programme as we endeavour and aim to:

Include and engage staff, governors, pupils, parents and the local community in a commitment to improve the world today for tomorrow's children.
Share good practice with pupils, parents and the community thus encouraging them to adopt the initiatives.
Promote food and drink themes of their healthy eating schemes, improve school catering, reduce food and related waste and promote health awareness.
Conserve and monitor the use of energy and water.
Improve the local well-being of the wider community through their website and regular education for sustainable development related days or weeks of education and action.
Promote awareness of climate change through cross curricular activities and share the responsibility with the wider community for promoting and practising policies which show concern and care for the future of the global environment.New Paragraph

For more information about our school's approach please click on the links below:

Sustainable School Travel Statement/Strategy

View Document

Action Plan

View Document

Environment Review 2023

View Document

Environment Review 2023

View Document

Sustainable School Travel Statement/Strategy

View Document

Action Plan

View Document

Environment Review 2023

View Document

Environment Review 2023

View Document

Eco-School Programme

Session Aims:

Develop an understanding of the Eco-Schools programme, including:

It’s vision, values and ethos
The Seven Steps
The Ten Eco-Schools Topic

The Ethos

We are positive
We are long-term
We are supportive
we are flexible
We believe in young people

The Seven Steps

Form an Eco-Committee
Complete the Eco-Schools Environmental Review
Decide on an Action Plan
Gather environmental Curriculum Links
Inform and Involve others
Monitor and Evaluate projects in the Action Plan
Create the Eco-Code

Ten Topics

Biodiversity
Energy
Global Citizenship
Healthy Living
Litter
Marine
School Grounds
Transport
Waste
Water

Environmental Leaders

Each year, children will be able to apply to become their classes Environmental Leader.

To apply, children are asked to write

a short paragraph about why they feel they should be nominated as their classes

Environmental Leader. They will be selected based on their passion for making a difference to our planet and the environment. Elected Environmental Leaders will work with a group of our staff who have put themselves forward to join our 'Green Working Party'.

Together they will create our annual

Sustainability Action Plan and work towards raising the profile of environmental issues in school, locally and wider. They will also decide on key initiatives, measure our school progress and report back to the governors, parents, and their peers

on the progress our school has made.

The Green Working Party

This party is made up of staff members

who are passionate about raising the profile of environment education and sustainability. Staff members put themselves forward to work on the school's green initiatives, support our Environmental Leaders, lead assemblies with children and support the school with the mplementation of the Eco-Schools Programme and progress with our Sustainability Action Plan

and the wider School Improvement Plan

environment target.

Environmental Leaders

Each year, children will be able to apply to become their classes Environmental Leader.

To apply, children are asked to write a short paragraph about why they feel they should be nominated as their classes Environmental Leader. They will be selected based on their passion for making a difference to our planet and the environment. Elected Environmental Leaders will work with a group of our staff who have put themselves forward to join our 'Green Working Party'. Together they will create our annual Sustainability Action Plan and work towards raising the profile of environmental issues in school, locally and wider. They will also decide on key initiatives, measure our school progress and report back to the governors, parents, and their peers on the progress our school has made.

The Green Working Party

This party is made up of staff members who are passionate about raising the profile of environment education and sustainability. Staff members put themselves forward to work on the school's green initiatives, support our Environmental Leaders, lead assemblies with children and support the school with the implementation of the Eco-Schools Programme and progress with our Sustainability Action Plan and the wider School Improvement Plan environment target.

Welcome to our Eco-Council

Our Eco-Council consist of pupils from each year group, who meet regularly to share ideas and to work towards the Green Flag Award.

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The eco monitors had their first meeting and their roles and job for this term were explained. We now have teams of children making sure lights and electrical equipment are being turned off when not in use, taps are being turned off so water is not wasted and litter is being controlled. Litter monitors are taking part in regular litter picks and are also putting fruit waste into the school compost bin. Energy and Water monitors will be completing some surveys of our school to determine how many automatic lights, taps and hand dryers we have in school to inform future planning as well as putting up posters.

Gardening club have also been helping complete some actions towards our biodiversity goals by planting a pine tree, making bird feeders and taking part in a bird watch.

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Environmental Leaders

Each year, children will be able to apply to become their classes Environmental Leader.

Elected Environmental Leaders will work with a group of our staff who have put themselves forward to join our 'Green Working Party'. Together they will create our annual Sustainability Action Plan and work towards raising the profile of environmental issues in school, locally and wider. They will also decide on key initiatives, measure our school progress and report back to the governors, parents,

and their peers on the progress our school has made.

The Green Working Party

This party is made up of staff members who are passionate about raising the profile of environment education and sustainability.

Staff members put themselves forward to work on the school's green initiatives, support our Environmental Leaders, lead assemblies with children and support the school with the implementation of the Eco-Schools Programme and progress with our Sustainability Action Plan and the wider School Improvement Plan environment target.