We all care about the environment and like to think we ‘do our bit’, but what if we feel that our bit isn’t quite enough? What if we could also educate, inspire, and motivate an entire community to change the way they do things and make marked impact on the environment where we live, study and work?
That’s just what our Eco Warriors did when they set out to win a prestigious Green Flag Award.
Young people care deeply about environmental issues and have a strong desire to actively protect our planet. However, environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity-loss, or plastic pollution are huge global issues and the thought of tackling them can be intimidating, leaving many feeling overwhelmed and wondering ‘Where do I begin?’
It took a year of hard work from our Eco Warriors to get the award, which required them to complete 7 steps:
- They set up an Eco-Committee as a Discovery Day option
- They undertook a comprehensive Environmental Review to determine what Undershaw was doing well and areas in which the school needed to improve
- They formulated an ambitious Action Plan for the Eco Schools activities
- They collaborated with teachers and forged eco-themed curriculum links
- They involved and informed the community by leading an assembly to inform the school of their plans and ask for help in achieving them
- They recruited Eco-Friends from each class to monitor and support the school-wide initiatives to ensure everyone kept to their promises
- They created their own Eco Code
Each week they litter-picked, gardened, and educated themselves on our planet and ways that we can actively help protect it. They then had to complete a detailed application form, providing evidence that they had completed each step.
”I am so proud of the students for leading this programme so diligently, energetically and with a wide-angle lens on the impact the programme would have not only on our every day school life but the effect on the planet as a whole. Their essential skills really shone through. We’re always trying to find significance for our students at Undershaw and to seek out opportunities where they can see the positive impact we can all have on the world. It builds confidence, self-esteem, and unparalleled self-worth. This programme helped in so many ways.
Leigh FisherDeputy Head of SEND, KS2 Teacher and Eco-schools Coordinator
”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.
Adam FlintManager, Eco-schools England
