Learning at Colston's: Eco Schools

What has been done so far?

• Miss Davies (Year 1 teacher) is co-ordinating Colston's Eco-Schools programme, with the support of other staff and some parents
• In the Summer of 2007, and Action Group was formed, with two children from each class in Years 3, 4 and 5 and supporting adults from the teaching staff, parents and governors.
• The children undertook an Environmental Review, which you can see below
• The results have been analysed, and the Action Group decided to prioritise Litter, Waste & Recycling, and Transport for immediate action
• The Action Plan for these areas was written, and action was taken to improve things. Among the good things achieved are..... Less litter in the playground and regular litter rotas to collect it.....Paper recycling started in every classroom and children actively encouraged to be the best at recycling.....An ongoing campaign to stop inconsiderate parents who endager children's lives from parking recklessly outside the school.
• The school won its Bronze Award in trhe Autumn of 2008. This was gained after we could show our achievements in making progress towards our Action Plan, after starting to include Eco-Schools in the curriculum, and holding assemblies about important topics such as recycling.
• Work continued and the Action Group added two more areas to its plan, Energy and a Global Perspective. Our Action Plan in these areas includes activity to reduce the school's electricity usage and to integrate learning about sustainability in different parts of the world into the curriculum.
• The School has also created and adopted an Eco-Code to help spread the message about the importance of sustainability.
• In May 2008 we won our Silver Award for our continued work with Eco-Schools.

Our Eco Code 

We are Colston's Primary School,

We recycle cos we know it's cool,

Packets, tins, bottles, paper and cans,

Leave it all out for the recycling van!

Reduce plastic,

Switch off all the lights,

Walk or take the bus,

Reduce all those flights!

Save the animals,

Don't chop down the trees,

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle,

Please, Please, Please!!!

Our Action Plan 
(May 2008)

The Environmental Review

The following 21 questions were asked by members of the Action Team: (Results in Red)


Litter / Rubbish

• Is there too much litter on the ground in the school grounds?
• Does the school have organised litter picking sessions?
• Are there enough bins inside and outside, in the school grounds?
  
• More and more litter on school grounds
• More / better bins needed from outside areas
• Children need to be encouraged to put litter in bins

Energy

• Are the lights left on in classrooms when people aren't in them?
• Is it sometimes too hot in classrooms and the heating cannot be turned down?
• Are the computers in the ICT suite left on when not in use?
  
• lights are left on in classrooms/ corridors when not in use
• overhead projectors are left on at times when not in use

Waste

• Does the school recycle its paper from classrooms and offices?
• Does the school compost its waste fruit/vegetables/weeds etc?
• Does the school try to buy goods made from recycled materials?
  
• school needs to start recycling in every classroom
• information about kitchen waste

Water

• Are there push-stop water-saving taps in the toilets?
• Are there water-saving devices on the urinals in the toilets?
  
• push taps only exist in KS2 toilets - they need to be in KS1 toilets

School Grounds

• Does the school have a growing area?
• Are there enough places for pupils to sit at playtime?
  
• More sitting areas at playtime
• A garden area in playground

Biodiversity

• Does the school have a wildlife area?
• How else do you try to attract wildlife into the school grounds?
  
• secret garden - children feel they do not go out there enough
• bird tables around school grounds
• Grass areas

Transport

• Is there a problem with cars outside school before school and at home time?
• Is it possible for most pupils to walk/cycle to school or take public transport?
  
• cars are always parked on yellow lines outside school gates
• crossing road is a problem for children who walk to school
• children should be encouraged to walk / cycle to school

Healthy Living

• Does the school have a fruit/healthy tuck shop at breaktimes?
• Are healthy options encouraged for school dinners?
• Is drinking water available in class?
  
• no tuck shop at break time
• KS2 children want fruit at playtime
• water is not always available to pupils

Global Perspective

• Do pupils consider how actions taken within the school affect people and the environment locally and globally?
  
• Lower KS2/ KS1 would like more environmental education

The Action Plan - Transport, Litter & Waste