Pupils at John Hampden Primary School 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.
Pupils have collaborated with Mrs Arnett (Eco Co-Ordinator) to conduct an environmental review, assessing how eco-friendly our school is. The children reviewed everything from the school’s recycling practices, to energy usage, to how environmental themes are covered in classrooms. Building on their findings, the pupils and Mrs Arnett planned a year of activities that would up their green-credentials.
The group connected their work to three Eco-Schools topics: biodiversity, litter, and the school grounds.
Activities included litter picking around the school on a regular basis. The children also enjoyed working closely with Lucy Electric, a local company, to help clear the Millennium Garden and wooded area of overgrown brambles and weeds. The school then planted flowers, fruit and vegetables. Lucy Electric also helped to promote biodiversity in the school grounds by offering to provide all the resources and manpower to create two wonderful bug hotels (we tend to call them ‘mansions’ because they are so big)!
Mrs Arnett said that the Eco Councillors have been so excited to be involved with all our school initiatives and we that they can’t wait to think of new projects for 2022-2023!
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.”
