Congratulations John Clare Primary School Helpston and Eye C.E. Primary School who have both been awarded the prestigious Green Flag award symbolising excellence in environmental activity.
Seven local schools have now achieved Green Flag status, which is an exceptional achievement for Peterborough. This is the highest award obtainable as part of the International Eco-Schools programme administered in England by Keep Britain Tidy.
To achieve the award schools must meet a number of challenges including; establishing a pupil led ‘Eco-Action Team,’ involving the wider community in their green practices and integrating environmental issues into lessons.
In addition to a walking bus and garden club, John Clare Primary School has installed energy saving features and altered behaviour patterns to lower their carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency. Their new extension has a sedum-covered roof, recycled insulation and energy-saving light sensors.They generate their own energy from solar panels and are the first school in Peterborough to use a biomass boiler.
Helen Bacon, Eco Coordinator and Key Stage 1 teacher said, “The biomass boiler has saved approx. £2,000 compared to our old oil fuelled boiler - money which can be spent on the children!”
Pupils from Year 1-6 form our Eco Warriors team. They understand how the biomass boiler and solar panels work, and have done a fantastic job communicating this to the whole school. As part of a ‘Switch off’ campaign, the Eco Warriors carry out monthly meter readings and publish the results on their eco notice board.An ‘invisible’ Green Fairy does spot checks and rewards the best performing energy saving class.
Martin Fry, headteacher said, “We held a special family assembly where the children celebrated achieving the Green Flag, the Peterborough Energy Award and the Eco-leader Award for Mrs Bacon. We are also delighted to have just won the ET Environmental Education Award!
“Our motto is 'At John Clare...we take care' and we feel that all children are beginning to understand the importance of 'taking care' of our environment.”
The other well-deserving Green Flag success story is Eye Primary School, who focused on reducing food waste to lower their environmental impact. One of the main activities during their eco-week was to compare areas of the world with populations suffering from hunger with those that produce masses of food waste.
An introductory assembly from council experts launched a composting scheme and the whole school actively compost, with pupils demonstrating their hands-on understanding of the process. In an exciting competition, pupils created posters to encourage composting action and awareness.
“Pupils now collect and compost their packed lunch and snack leftovers for use on the school allotments. All classes have waste monitors and their own compost collectors. We are also increasing the number of compost bins around the school,” said headteacher Clare Clark.
After examining school meals and conducting a food waste survey, Eye Primary School has also transformed the school kitchen menu to lower waste generated. Lunches are freshly prepared on the premises by specialist catering staff and served in the popular ‘Much and Crunch’ school restaurant.
Headteacher Clare Clark added, ‘’The uptake of school lunches has doubled in the last year! Our meals are healthy, nutritious and of course tasty – so less waste is produced. We will be doing another survey soon to see how successful we have been in reducing waste.
“We have worked hard to embed eco-awareness and green principles into the heart of school life. Green Flag status recognises our progress and enthusiasm for environmental issues!”
Jill Foster, Environment Education Officer from green charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT), said, “The Eco-Schools programme provides a clear framework to help schools go green and Peterborough schools have the added benefit of support from PECT to achieve their award. It takes at least two years to achieve Green Flag level and schools must pass an assessment by an external auditor.
“More schools are getting involved, with three primary schools working towards Green Flag status for 2012 and the next academic year will also see the first Peterborough secondary school go for Green Flag level!”
PECT’s Chief Executive said, “Both schools are great examples of how we can reduce environmental impact and support Peterborough’s reputation as the UK’s Environment Capital by educating and engaging the city’s young people. Their commitment and achievement is to be applauded – the Green Flag success is a brilliant way to end the term and recognise the whole school’s effort!”
Notes to Editor
The Eco-Schools initiative is one of five environmental education programmes run internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).It provides a framework to help embed environmental principles into the heart of school life and operates in 46 countries, linking more than 40,000 schools.Schools work towards gaining one of three awards – bronze, silver and the prestigious Green Flag, which symbolises excellence in environmental activity. Eighty-five per cent of Peterborough schools are actively engaged in environmental education either through the Eco-Schools scheme or the Sustainable Schools Framework.
Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) is a charity set up following Peterborough’s designation as a UK Environment City in 1992. PECT carries out research and implements practical projects to protect and improve the environment.Our mission at PECT is to lead and support the city in delivering growth and regeneration in a truly environmentally sustainable way.As a successful charity we work with a wide variety of stakeholders to make a difference for our environment – through innovation, enterprise and commitment to action on the ground. PECT has a strong track record of delivering projects of regional and national significance. It has a staff of 35 working on initiatives from green spaces to business environmental management to sustainable communities and lifestyles.
For further information please contact:
Nadia Grys, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Peterborough Environment City Trust, The Green House, 1stFloor, 4 – 6 Cowgate, Peterborough, PE1 1NA
