Working Towards Eco Schools Green Flag Award
As a school we are acutely aware that we are responsible, in partnership with you, for providing our children with the knowledge and skills to challenge environmental issues and champion change, in order to protect and preserve our planet for future generations.
There are many ways that we are already doing this, through things like our outdoor education, RE, science and geography lessons, clubs such as the eco warriors, building our second-hand uniform offering and other recycling programmes, as well as giving every child a Coronation gift of wild flower seeds to encourage butterflies and bees in our gardens. However, we know we need to do more, not only to educate ourselves and our children, but also to make Hazlegrove a more sustainable school, reduce our energy use and improve our carbon footprint.
This term has seen the start of this drive to raise awareness of the impact we have on our environment and to develop more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices across all aspects of our school. This week we see the start of ‘No Mow May’ across various areas of the site and we will be studying the impact that leaving the grass to grow has on the plant and insect life in those areas. This Monday we had a ‘Low Energy Day’, where we encouraged the staff and children to use as little electricity as possible. Luckily it was a sunny day and as well as having our assembly outside, the teachers were creative with their lessons, many using our wonderful outdoor environment. We have taken meter readings from Low Energy Day and will be comparing these with next Monday, where there will be no one in school, and the Monday after where we have a full school day, to review the impact and influence we can have on our energy use with the children.
We have formed an Eco committee of staff in school and from September will be working with the children on several projects, in order to achieve the Eco Schools Green Flag award, and make positive changes to our day to day practices. We have an active parent group who have been instrumental in opening our eyes to areas we could improve, and with your support we hope to empower our children to drive change and find ways to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming a carbon neutral school in the future.
Amanda Benbow
