Eco Schools Scotland

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Eco Schools Scotland
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What is the Eco-Schools programme?

• International initiative
• Encourages whole-school action for the
  environment
• Learning resource
• Environmental management tool
• Recognised award scheme

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The 9 Eco-Schools topics

• Litter
• Waste minimisation
• Energy
• Water
• Transport
• Health and Well Being
• School grounds
• Biodiversity
• Sustaining Our World

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Key features of an Eco-Schools programme
Environmental Review
Eco Code
Action Plan
Eco Committee
Monitoring action Evaluating Progress
Involve whole school and community
Link to the Curriculum
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Eco Committee

• A mixed group of adults and pupils
• Pupils volunteer and are selected by peers
• Adults could include teachers, support staff,
  parents and co-opted adults for specific tasks
• Meets at least twice per term
• Pupils share minute-taking responsibility
• Pupil reps report back to rest of school
• Reports to Parent Forum and local community
• Minutes displayed on school Eco noticeboard

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Environmental review

• Must be carried out annually
• Must review all 9 topics
• As many pupils as possible should participate
• Ensures that no significant areas are overlooked
• Helps pupils and the rest of the school community
  understand the environmental impacts across all 9
  topics
• Provides information to prioritise the action to
  be taken
• Results displayed on school Eco noticeboard

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Action Plan

• Developed using results of environmental review
• Lists a number of agreed environmental objectives
• Contains SMART targets
• Explicitly illustrates cost implications, links
  to the curriculum and arrangements for monitoring
  and evaluating
• Prioritises into short, medium and long term
  targets no need to tackle all aspects at once!
• Focus on a commitment to improve rather than
  environmental perfection
• Pupils lead some action areas

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Monitoring action and evaluating progress

• Should be ongoing and built into entire process
• Continuous monitoring maintains interest
• Helps to plan any necessary changes to action
  plan and provides information to celebrate
  success
• Range of possible methods to monitor and record
• Pupil involvement is key
• Eco committee reviews and evaluates progress and
  analyses data collected
• Inform whole school community of progress and
  changes including displaying on Eco noticeboard

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Linking to the curriculum

• Eco-schools should not be regarded as an addition
  to existing work.
• Links to the 3-18 curriculum and addresses
  cross-curricular issues such as enterprise,
  citizenship, health and well being and
  sustainable development education
• Ideal vehicle for developing in pupils the 4
  Capacities of A Curriculum for Excellence.
• Links to 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-School notice board and displays in local
  community
• Enterprise and business links
• Assemblies and special events
• Album of activities is maintained
• Eco Day/Week of action

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The Eco Code

• All members of the school community should
  contribute to the schools Eco-Code
• Eco committee draws up code relevant to action
  plan and based on pupil suggestions
• Can take several forms phrases, list, poem,
  song
• Memorable and familiar for everyone, brightly
  illustrated
• It should be prominently displayed on
  noticeboard, school website and in all classes
• All pupils and staff should be familiar with it
• Reviewed annually for relevancy

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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

• Schools Environmental Projects Group (Contact
  details on North Ayrshire website)
• www.learning-north-ayrshire.com/eco/home.htm
  North Ayrshire website
• www.ecoschoolsscotland.org National website