Schools Encouraged to Apply for Eco-Schools Green Flag
Accreditation recognises children's environmental efforts
Gumley School pupils with their environmental projects
October 6, 2023
Schools and nurseries across Hounslow Borough are being encouraged to apply to the Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation programme which is now open for application. Through the programme, students can discuss environmental issues, take actions to build an eco-friendly borough.
Run by charity organisation Keep Britain Tidy, Eco-Schools Green Flag is the only environmental educational and accreditation programme in England. It is also the largest environmental education programme in the world, spanning 64 countries and more than 2.3 million children and young people are actively taking part in it.
Last year, around 20 nurseries, plus primary and secondary schools in Hounslow took part and achieved Eco-School Green Flags. Strand-on-the-Green Infant and Nursery School and Belmont Primary School were awarded with merits. Three schools were accredited with distinctions - Devonshire Day Nursery, Nursery on the Green Southall and Gumley House School FCJ.
With the support of teachers, Gumley House School FCJ students raised awareness of environmental protection through a variety of activities, from attending conferences to learn about M&S’s net-zero business strategy, organising recycled clothes sales to raise funds for school’s Eco-School projects to creating artwork with litter picked up from the river behind the school.
Juliette Claro, Assistant Head Teacher, Gumley House School FCJ, said, "The Eco School Award has provided focus and motivation for our young people by providing opportunities to network with companies and charities. All projects are very much student led. With the support of teachers and dedicated volunteers, our students learn a lot about climate change, opportunities to make a difference and educating our community about sustainability. We value the scheme and we look forward to working towards our new application this year."
This World Teachers’ Day, 5 October, Hounslow Council is encouraging more schools and nurseries to seek accreditation, Councillor Lily Bath, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills and Employment, said, “Caring for the environment should start at an early age. The Eco-Schools Green Flag programme is an excellent opportunity for schools and teachers to celebrate the ecological achievements by children and young people in Hounslow. Children and young people can learn about the urgency of protecting the environment. They can also share brilliant ideas to tackle environmental issues. I am proud of our young generation who actively engage in building a healthier and greener Hounslow for all.”
The Council will provide resources for nurseries and schools to deliver their Eco-School actions plans. Teachers can join the Environmental Champion scheme to become ‘Environmental Champions’ and sign up their students as ‘Eco Agents’. They can take part in volunteering activities including litter picking, biodiversity surveys, weeding and many more. For more information contact hounslowenvironmentalchampions@groundwork.org.uk.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |