We registered with Eco-Schools because it provided us with a very user-friendly framework for putting the environment on our whole school agenda. In addition, the Eco-Schools programme provides us with a reward system which is tangible and achievable.
We hope to raise awareness of Environmental issues and in so doing, make every member of the school community more conscious of their own behaviour. We also hope to cut the school’s running costs, in the long term, and improve the aesthetic appearance of the school, by reducing litter.
As the teacher with responsibility for Environmental Issues, I was already aware of the interest in this area, among both pupils and staff. I initially spoke to the Principal and the School’s HR and Finance Manager to gain their support.
In order to establish the Action Team, I spoke to all my classes and simply asked if there was anyone interested in joining the team. I also spoke to teaching staff. At our first meeting, I introduced the Eco-Schools programme and asked all members of the Action Team to familiarise themselves with the Eco-Schools’ website before the next meeting.
At our next meeting we conducted a Simple Environmental audit and as a group identified three areas for development: paper waste, litter, computers on standby. The audit process included a lot of group discussion, as well as individual contributions from everyone on the Action Team. We then reached agreement on the three priority areas.
The whole process thus far has been paper free. We have used e-mail as the means of communication within the Action Team. All agendas, minutes and other documents have been saved electronically. We have also posted progress reports on staff and pupil notice boards, as opposed to making unnecessary photocopies. We have delivered progress reports in person at staff meetings and pupil assemblies. In addition, our webpage will be up and running shortly and this will be updated regularly.
Our pupils range in age from 11 -18. They all have a high degree of computer literacy and we have exploited this, for example one of the members of the Action Team, a Year 12 Computing student, designed the website.
The pupils have also acquired new skills as members of the Action Team. They have positions on the Team (Chair, Secretary, P.R.O. etc). They conduct the meeting and take minutes.
We have incurred no costs thus far.
Meetings have been frequent, but short, in order to make progress quickly. These have been held during the school day or sometimes after school. Designing the webpage has been the most time consuming activity so far. Tasks have been effectively delegated to avoid one person doing the bulk of the work.
We have been in touch with Derry City Council about recycling. A meeting with their Environmental Officer is pending. We have also had a 2 day visit from Action Renewables. Their Education Officer visited 6 Citizenship classes to talk about alternative energy sources. This visit was a great success. There was massive interest in this area and the Education Officer was overwhelmed by the number of questions asked!
Our Action Team was established by the 14th of September. We have encountered no delays thus far.
We compiled our Action plan during a 30 minute meeting, having already conducted a Simple Environmental Audit. Informing the whole school about our Action Plan was relatively straightforward. Teachers were informed at an In Service Training Day, by means of a brief presentation. All pupils were informed at Assemblies during September and October. The school’s Administrative staff has been involved from the outset because a senior member of the school’s admin staff is a member of the Action Team. In addition, the school’s HR and Finance Manager has put the Action Plan on the agenda at management level
| Green Flag: | 1,179 |
| Silver: | 3,908 |
| Bronze: | 4,648 |
