Warwickshire News Mine

St Giles Junior School will soon be applying for the Eco-Schools prestigious Green Flag Award. The school has already achieved bronze and silver accreditation which measures how well schools embed sustainability.

The school’s green credentials have also been recognised by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council with St Giles beating 15 schools in the area to scoop a top prize in this year’s Schools in Bloom competition. The school collected its certificate and the prestigious Green School Cup at an awards ceremony at Bedworth Civic Hall on Wednesday 7 July.

St Giles has been involved in the Eco-schools programme since 2008 and has seen a number of benefits. It is led by the schools eco team made up of 26 class representatives from across the school who work together to address sustainability issues. This includes taking part in the weekly gardening club to maintain the school allotment and flower beds, responsibility for recycling and energy monitoring and looking after the school farm’s chickens, pigs and rabbit.

The school allotment is constructed from recycled materials and everything the children produce is either eaten or reused. The raised allotment beds are made from discarded wooden pallets, and planters are made from old tyres. Old CDs, as well as looking pretty serve as bird scarers to protect the harvest. The eco team even make their own compost from kitchen waste and plant materials, or use liquid compost from their very own wormery.

The gardening project is central to school life and inspires learning in other areas of the curriculum. The pupils find out how food is grown and about plant life cycles in science classes, and in art lessons the children have been drawing plants and decorating flower pots.

Class teacher and science coordinator Val Lewis leads on school sustainability. She is confident that the school will be successful in achieving the Green Flag award next term. She said: “We have had valuable support and advice from the county council to become an eco-school but the children have brought the projects to life by taking care of the garden, running the recycling centre, getting involved with energy saving and waste management, and sharing messages with their peers.

“We take every opportunity we can to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability at St Giles, and recycling, reusing and reducing, accompany the traditional three Rs in our curriculum”.

Barbara Golding, who manages the Eco-Schools programme at Warwickshire County Council, said: “St Giles has fully embraced the sustainability agenda and is working hard to make sure everyone in the school is involved. I’m very impressed with everything St Giles has achieved in such a short time, and they are well on their way to achieving their Green Flag.”

Warwickshire County Councillor Alan Cockburn, cabinet member for environment and economy said: “The Eco-schools programme is about raising awareness of environmental issues and getting schools to think about how they can promote sustainability in a number of ways, such as increasing recycling and helping to combat climate change by reducing the amount of CO2 produced from energy use. These are important messages for our young people, the adults of tomorrow who need these skills and knowledge to build a sustainable future.”

County Councillor, Heather Timms portfolio holder for children, young people and families added. “It is obvious the children really enjoy these activities and are learning a lot. As well as enriching areas of the curriculum, this programme helps other initiatives taking place at Warwickshire schools such as Healthy Schools and Extended Services which is really good to see.

“I was also pleased to hear that the school’s efforts have been recognised by the borough council who awarded them with the Green School Cup - well done St Giles.”

For more information about Eco-schools visit
http://www.warwickshiregov.uk/ecoschools, http://www.eco-schools.org.uk
or email barbaragolding@warwickshire.gov.uk.

Link to WCC