Green Flag award

Green Flag criteria

1. The school has identified an Action Team which has met on at least six occasions. The Action Team has the support of a parent and/or governor. Pupils take significant responsibility for the running of the Action Team.
2. The school has completed a formal Environmental Review, recorded the results and undertaken a follow-up review.
3. The school has produced a detailed Action Plan, including timescales and targets, shared the plan with the school community and updated it based upon the follow-up review.
4. The school has identified progress towards achieving most targets in the Action Plan.
5. The school has obtained physical evidence of their progress, including data collection and analysis (graphs, etc).
6. The school has identified substantial progress towards one large-scale project and indicated involvement with two others. ‘Identified substantial progress’ means that the school has an understanding of the project topic, recognises its importance to sustainable development within the school environment and wider community and has implemented change.
7. The school has a prominent, designated noticeboard, web pages or newsletter which details Eco-Schools activities. Eco-Schools activities are reported in assemblies and at governors’ meetings, as well as being regularly communicated to parents and the wider community.
8. The school has an agreed, adopted and displayed Eco-Code.
9. The school has shared good practice with other schools who wish to join the Eco-Schools programme.
10. The school can indicate that environmental issues have been covered in at least three curriculum areas by most year groups.

Please note

In addition to the criteria listed above, Eco-Schools is introducing the following new requirement at Green Flag level.

As part of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive all state schools will be required to display a certificate which rates their energy use on a scale of A – G from October 2008. The new Display Energy Certificate (DEC) looks like the A-G rating you would expect to see when purchasing a new Fridge or Freezer.

Eco-Schools believes it is good practice for Eco-Schools to display a DEC ahead of the October deadline. Therefore from January 2008 Eco-Schools will be encouraged to submit a copy of their certificate with their Green Flag application form. Although this won’t formally become criteria until October.

If you don't have a certificate yet don't panic. There are two ways in which you can get one. Firstly, Local Authorities around the country are developing certificates for their own buildings (including Schools). By contacting your authority you can find out when they are likely to be implimented in your area. Secondly the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), Create and BRE who have developed a free certification process as part of their Sustainable Learning scheme. Sustainable Learning is designed to help schools prepare for the new European Directive.

The process is very straightforward. Simply register your school on the Sustainable Learning website: www.sustainablelearning.info to create your certificate. The website gives full details of support available to all schools that register and it also provides a programme of activity to help schools reduce their energy use and therefore improve their overall energy rating. Best of all, by following the programme you will save your school money!

Whichever method you use to produce your certificate we would like you to send us two copies with your Green Flag application. If you have difficulty with either method please give the team a call on 01942 612621 for more advice.

Green Flag applications

Whether you are applying for a Green Flag for the first time or renewing your Green Flag status, the application process is the same (with the exception of an additional section for reapplications).

As part of your Green Flag application you are asked to list evidence in support of your statements or answers. Please make sure that this evidence exists, but do not do anything with it at this stage – as long as you know where to find it if needed!

Please send in only two copies (double-sided) of the Green Flag application form and the few documents specifically requested! Two copies of each document, double-sided.

To apply for a Green Flag, please send your completed application form and enclosures to:

Eco-Schools
ENCAMS
Elizabeth House
The Pier
Wigan
WN3 4EX

If your school is in Northern Ireland please send your completed Green Flag application form and enclosures to:

Eco-Schools Northern Ireland
PO Box 43
Ballymoney
BT53 9AE

Alternatively you can email your application to eco-schools@encams.org

There are no deadlines for submission of applications and you may submit your assessment form at any time during the school year. However, please note that we currently receive the majority of applications during the very busy spring months of April, May and June, and July. Applying during these months may result in a delay in your application being assessed.

Your assessment form and enclosures will be acknowledged and processed by the Eco-Schools office. Your school will be contacted so that a suitable date for a visit can be arranged. During this visit the assessor may ask to see some or all of the evidence referred to in your application form, and will wish to be able to talk with both children and staff about their level of involvement in the scheme.

Following a successful visit, you will receive a confirmation letter, certificate and Green Flag.

If your application is unsuccessful, the form will be returned to you with an explanation, and some guidance as to how a resubmission may succeed; recommendations for progress will be provided.

Click below to download Green Flag application form

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