Students at Workington Academy have earned an international accreditation this academic year, recognising their amazing work in making their school more environmentally friendly and raising eco-awareness in fellow pupils.
Eco-Schools is an international education programme that prompts young people to explore sustainability and climate change and take action.
Workington Academy’s Eco-Committee collaborated with Geography teacher Dr Dooling to conduct an environmental review, assessing how eco-friendly their 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-Committee planned a year of activities that would up their green-credentials.
The group connected their work to 3 Eco-Schools topics: School Grounds, Waste and Energy
Activities included planting over 400 trees across the school site with Yr5 pupils from 9 local primary schools, saving over 650 pens and other writing implements from going to landfill waste through the TerraCycle scheme, and appointing student Energy Monitors to make sure staff were remembering to turn off all electrical equipment at the end of the school day
Mr Bird, Executive Headteacher said: “I am really proud of the way our school community has approached key environmental issues. They have been proactive, creative and determined in their approach to delivering on the priorities they highlighted in the environmental audit. The Eco-Committee have gone from strength to strength and I know they have big plans for the future.”
Ella Harrison, student chairperson of the Eco-Committee reflected on the year’s achievement: “Eco-Committee has allowed me to help my school do its part to help the environment. We now have recycling bins in our canteen and trees planted all around the school grounds. I feel like the Eco-Committee was something missing from my life, but I now feel like I can change the world for the better.”
Eco-Schools England Manager, Adam Flint, said: “Earning an Eco-Schools Green Flag Award takes passion, commitment and a desire to make a difference. Pupils should be proud of their great work. They’re an inspiration and it makes us feel heartened and positive about the future of our planet.”
To learn more about Eco-Schools head to www.eco-schools.org.uk
