Eco Schools

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Eco - Schools
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What is the Eco-Schools programme?

• Europe - wide initiative
• Encourages whole-school action for the
  environment
• Is a learning resource
• Involves the community
• Is an indicator for National Priority 4

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There are eight Eco-Schools topics

• Litter
• Waste minimisation
• Energy
• Water
• Transport
• Healthy living
• School grounds
• Biodiversity

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Key features of an Eco-Schools programme

• Eco - committee
• Environmental review
• Action plan
• Monitoring action and evaluating progress
• Linking to the curriculum
• Involving the whole school and wider community
• Eco-code

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Suggested Eco- Committee membership

• A member of senior management
• Other teachers
• Pupils (essential)
• A School Board member
• A parent
• A non-teaching staff member
• Caretaker / janitor
• Representative from the local authority

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What are the purposes of an environmental review?

• Give a clear view of the range of the schools
  impacts
• Make sure that no significant areas are
  overlooked
• Help pupils and the rest of the school community
  understand the impacts
• Help to prioritise the action to be taken

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Principles of an Action Plan

• Targets should be realistic and achievable
• No need to tackle all aspects at once
• Prioritise into short, medium and long term
  targets
• Focus on a commitment to improve rather than
  environmental perfection

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Monitoring action and evaluating progress

• Continuous monitoring maintains interest
• Helps to plan any necessary changes
• Range of possible methods
• Pupil involvement is key
• Evaluation follows monitoring
• Inform whole school community of progress and
  changes

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Linking to the curriculum

• Eco-schools should not be regarded as an addition
  to existing work.It is cross-curricular and
  contributes to other initiatives such as
  enterprise, citizenship, health promoting
  schools, etc.

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Linking to the curriculum

• Increases status of Eco- Schools programme
• May be short reference or major link
• Links to many curriculum areas - English
  Language, Mathematics, Geography, Science,
  Technology, Art Design, etc.
• Links at all ages and stages

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Involving the whole school and wider community

• Link between home and school
• Newsletters and articles in local press
• Involvement of community organisations
• Eco-Schools notice board
• Enterprise and business links
• Assemblies and special events
• Day of action

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The Eco-Code

• All members of the school community should
  contribute to the schools Eco-Code.
• It should be prominently displayed throughout the
  school and all pupils and staff should be
  familiar with it.

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The Eco-Code

• Demonstrates schools commitment to improving
• List main objectives of action plan
• Pupils have key role in developing the code
• Can take several forms - phrases, list, poem,
  song, etc.
• Design challenge for pupils to provide
  illustrations

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Eco-Schools Awards

• Bronze award is self-assessed
• Silver award is self-assessed
• Green Flag - assessed by two external assessors
  and must be renewed every two years

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Information and support

• Eco - Schools handbook
• Schools Environmental Projects Group
• Eco- Schools website - www.eco-schools.org.uk