One of the best ways to learn about how to implement the Eco-Schools programme is to see how it works in other schools.
Here you can read case studies from existing Eco-Schools, according to school type, theme and award level.
To make use of an educational resource that had been created by students from the school to raise awareness of environmental issues in children at primary school age. The resource is a book called “the Adventures of Eco-Man” which promotes environmentally friendly themes in a way that is both accessible and relevant to young people.
Our Eco Club decided that they wanted to be as close to 100% waste free as possible – project involved whole school plus parents (waste free packed lunches)
We wanted to extend pupil awareness of global cohesion and so focussed on finding out more about countries that shared similar lines of longitude as us – France, Spain and Ghana. Added to this we are learning about Unicef’s Right and Responsibilities of the Child and decided on 3 main topics – Water Term, Food Term and Play Term.
A core volunteer group of parents (including one school governor and one staff member) had already completed one large scale project – Tulley’s Garden, a sensory garden, for exploration and outdoor lessons. The children had been involved, in planting the herbs, and they have always regarded the garden as a very special place at Lutley.
.JPG)
We registered onto the Eco School initiative in March 2007 with the aim of setting up an Eco Council who would strive to educate the school pupils and community on eco-related issues. As well as this we wanted all pupils to be as involved as possible in the decision-making and action. We had an holistic view of how we wanted to approach the 9 areas( we were already a Healthy School ) so we put together an Action Plan
Our starting aims were to make use of an educational resource that had been created by students from the school to raise awareness of environmental issues in children at primary school age. The resource is a book called “the Adventures of Eco-Man” which promotes environmentally friendly themes in a way that is both accessible and relevant to young people
Our aim was to save energy, and to find out how much we could save when the whole school was working towards the same goal. To encourage pupils in the school to conserve energy throughout the winter months. To raise awareness amongst the pupils and staff of energy wastage, through implementing the Switch Off Fortnight Campaign and through Goodbye Standby
After successfully addressing Waste Management and Energy projects, students on the Eco Team Committee were keen to address the issue of Bio Diversity within the school. As a result, the students decided that they would like to start a Gardening Club after school with the aim of turning a drab, little used, concrete area within the heart of our school building into a place of tranquil, respite and pleasure for all staff and students to share and enjoy.
.jpg)
As a new school we decided that we were going to be aware of the amount of energy that the school uses and look at ways of being more eco-friendly and using less energy where possible. Initially, we looked at areas where we could have the biggest impact in a short period of time.
Our school grounds are beautiful as we are a rural school in the heart of Kent countryside, but we did not feel that we were making the very most of them. We wanted to further develop our habitat environment and strengthen everyone’s contribution to our kitchen gardens.
As a Technology school we are aware of our carbon footprint and are committed to reducing any adverse impact our school has on the environment. We recognise the importance of conducting our day-to-day lives in an ecologically sound way, and of educating our students about how to live sustainably........
We wanted to promote Healthy Eating in line with our PSHE curriculum but we also identified a very practical way to show how to limit food miles used for provisions of local food. We also have an excellent link with our local allotment and this helped with the practical aspects of launching our project.........
We had several aims/ projects. There was a growing consciousness in the school community about the importance of sustainability and the importance of the environment, with a determination to recycle, to collect our own water and to create our own garden.............
More than a year ago we noticed the ground was littered with red elastic bands – long before it became a ‘newsworthy’ item. We had previously run a campaign/competition “Ways to reuse rubbish” and discovered that many items of ‘rubbish’ could be used again – for example cutting up the legs of old thick school tights made great stand-by hair bands, or cutting up old marigold rubber gloves made elastic bands! We wondered how we could use these red elastic bands again.......
Hannah Roberts, Eco-Coordinator at White's Wood Lane Community Junior School talks about their school grounds project.
Elmswell Community Primary school began their transport initiative to encourage more children to walk or cycle to school. Additionally, the school wanted to make travel on the roads in and around the village safer for everyone using them, whether travelling to school or to homes and businesses within the village.
Tracy Brennan, Environment Support Officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council describes how the local authority has raised awareness of and supported Eco-Schools in her area.
We started the project to help us achieve our target of the Green Flag. The school had 10 raised beds which had been left for years, the children wanted to grow but the soil was compact and impossible to dig into, a lot of work and commitment was going to be needed.
Being a small rural school in central Bedfordshire, initially the prospect of Eco-Schools accreditation seemed quite daunting. Many of the case studies on the Eco-Schools web site seemed to be on a very large scale, however, we decided to embark on our Eco journey; taking small but measurable steps forward.
When we began working towards becoming a Sustainable school in 2007 most of our initial focus was on what we could change in our immediate environment.
One area we had not considered, however, was the Global Perspective. We felt that the children did not have a wider understanding of their future responsibilities in relation to Sustainability and world issues.
Bishopspark School is a Service Children's Education school (SCE). SCE is an Agency of the MOD and is dedicated to the education of the children of Service families and MOD personnel serving outside of the United Kingdom. Read how their website is an integral part of their Eco-Schools work.
We had already worked hard to gain the bronze and silver awards, so the green flag was a natural progression – and the children were very eager! To gain any award is an exciting event for primary school children, but our children, and myself are rather passionate about helping and protecting our world.
The school wanted to change from a school that just carries out projects into a true ‘Eco-School’ where every student knows and is proud of their environmental achievements, and wants to take the school forward in this way.
Canon Evans Infant school have been learning all the ways in which they can help the Wombles look after their environment.
The school gives their experience of achieving the Eco-Schools Silver Award.
The Woodroffe School share their experience of working through the Eco-Schools programme in readiness for their first Green Flag application.
Thomas Alleyne's High School has just been awarded it's fourth green flag to celebrate years of Eco work.
St. Columb's College recently joined the Eco-Schools programme and give their experience of getting started and achieving the Bronze Award.
Berkswich CE Primary School identified a project that would tackle the issues of water, recycling, energy efficiency and sustainability and made a successful application for a Currys Switched on Communities Grant.
Are you proud of a project your school has completed? Do you think your experience could help other schools with their projects? If so please click on the appropriate case study link below and tell us about it.
Case Study Template - Project
Case Study Template - Applying for the
Green Flag
Please submit all completed case studies with a photo to eco-schools@keepbritaintidy.org
Don't forget, you can also use the Schools Search facility to get in touch with other Eco-Schools in your area.
| Green Flag: | 1,179 |
| Silver: | 3,924 |
| Bronze: | 4,646 |
