Eco Council
Giving children an environmental voice…
Peters Hill Primary continues to follow the Eco-Schools programme which is an ideal way for schools to pursue a meaningful path towards improving the environment in both the school and the local community while at the same time having a life-long positive impact on the lives of young people and their families. The Programme is pupil-led, involving hands-on learning that gets the whole school and the wider community involved in exciting environmental projects.
Waste less and save money…
As well as the pupil benefits, which have a hugely positive effect on the whole school community, individual schools benefit from reducing their environmental impact. Eco-Schools consume less water and energy and produce less waste – in turn saving money that can be allocated elsewhere in the school.
Eco-School programme
The Eco-Schools programme consists of three structural elements – The Seven Step Framework, the Eco-Schools Topics and assessment for the international Green Flag award. The programme has the support from our school leaders, active involvement from staff, as well as a long-term commitment and the willingness to involve students in decision-making.
The Seven Step Framework consists of:
- Establishing an Eco-Committee
- Undertaking an Environmental Review
- Devising an Action Plan based on the review
- Making Curriculum Links
- Informing and Involving the whole school and wider community
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Creating an Eco-Code as a call to action
While the Seven Steps are the most important aspect of the Eco-Schools programme, we will also work on topics to help give the programme even more structure; marine, biodiversity, energy, litter, global citizenship, healthy living, school grounds, transport, waste and water.
Our ultimate aim is to achieve the internationally recognised Eco-Schools Green Flag award, once we have completed the Bronze and Silver Award.
Peters Hill intend to apply for the Bronze Award assessment by Summer term 2020.
We have already completed the following steps this Spring Term.
An Eco-Committee has been established with representatives from each class from Y3- Y6. We meet at least once every half-half term and pupils share responsibility with adults for running meetings and keeping a record of meetings. There is also representation from senior management. Meeting minutes are made available for anyone to view and can be found in our Eco-Council folder kept in the school library. Pupil representatives also ensure that there is communication to and from the Eco-Committee to the rest of the school following every meeting.
The Eco-Schools Environmental Review has been completed by pupils, with adult supervision, covering all ten Eco-Schools topics. The results will soon be communicated with the whole school and an Action Plan completed, following the outcomes of the review.
On completion of the Action Plan the Bronze Award assessment will be submitted.
Other Actions that have taken place Spring Term 2020
Peters Hill have are now participating in the Mary Stevens Hospice Recycling scheme, to not only play our part in recycling used stationary, used cosmetic containers and empty crisp packets but also as a means to raise money for a local and well-respected charity.
Our Committee members have also been promoting the message of saving energy across whole school, e.g. switching lights off, turning off devices when not in use, as well as being careful not to waste water. Weekly reports from our school energy supplier show that amount of energy consumption has reduced along with our school carbon footprint. These outcomes have been shared in assemblies and class message board
What is coming up?
Join us for the Great Big School Clean - part of the Great British September Clean
11-27 September 2020
Other dates to keep in your diary:
Earth Day April 22
Endangered Species Day Third Friday of May
International Day for Biological Diversity May 22
European Day of Parks May 24
Bike-to-Work Day Third Friday of May
World Environment Day June 5
World Oceans Day June 8
Global Wind Day June 15
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought June 17
International Climate Change Day June 21
World Rainforest Day June 22
World Population Day July 11
World Nature Conservation Day July 28
National Honey Bee Day August 22
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer September 16
Zero Emissions Day September 21
Car Free Day September 22
World Environmental Health Day September 26 since 2011
World Rivers Day Last Sunday of September