The pupils have earned an international accreditation this academic year, recognising their amazing work in making Westbrook Hay more environmentally friendly and raising eco-awareness amongst fellow pupils. Eco-Schools is an international education programme that prompts young people to explore sustainability and climate change and take action. We are especially pleased to have been awarded the Green Flag with DISTINCTION! This is the highest accolade possible.
Our Eco Warriors, 12 children from Years 3 – 8, conducted an environmental review, assessing how eco-friendly our school is. They reviewed everything from the school’s recycling practices, to energy usage, to how environmental themes are covered in classrooms. Building on their findings, the Eco Warriors, under the guidance of geography teacher, Mr Ndau and Head of Science, Mrs Harris, planned a year of activities that would up our green-credentials.
- Working in partnership with our Green Travel Plan which introduced the shuttle and walking buses, all part of our drive towards a sustainable school
- Our catering has focussed on reducing our food miles using locally sourced produce and growing our own vegetables. Our gardening club has worked very hard in our new poly tunnel, and also planting trees in our orchard.
- The Eco Warriors have been a driving force around the reducing energy consumption on the site by publicising the Switch Off campaigns each term. These have successfully reduced the amount of electricity consumed.
- In the classroom our STEM teachers have been looking at alternative energy projects with our Year 8 pupils.
- Our recycling efforts have transformed the way we get rid of waste, including the recycling of print cartridges.
Mark Brain, Headmaster, announced the news at the school assembly “We are absolutely thrilled to be have been awarded the Eco Schools Green Flag. Congratulations to our Eco Warriors, Mrs Harris and Mr Ndau who have driven their projects forward to make change happen”.
