Eco Schools

Here at Haughmond Federation, we are an Eco School

Eco Committee Member 2023-2024

Eco-School Award

Eco Schools is an international programme which rewards schools for working hard on environmental topics to make the world a better place. It works by involving the whole schools: pupils, teachers and other staff, together with parents and members of the local community.   It encourages teamwork and helps to create a shared understanding of what it takes to run a school in a way that respects and enhances the environment. Eco Schools is a recognised award scheme that accredits schools who make a commitment to continuously improve their environmental performance. We first became an Eco School in 2022, in recognition of all the hard work we do to promote a healthy lifestyle, including supporting mental health, also for our work on reducing our energy use and for tackling waste and litter.  We are very pleased to announce that last year our school was awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award, with Distinction. The Eco Schools Team said that “The award is a sign that our staff, young people and site are making great efforts to support the health of our planet”. They commented that our Eco-Committee 2023-2024 “achieved amazing things, embedding positive behaviours and championing sustainability” and that they are an “inspiration to our school and local community.” We are super proud of our Eco-Committee and honoured to be called an Eco School. Look out for our Eco Schools Award Certificate in the school foyer and for our Eco School banner, displayed outside. Eco schools have planted a tree on our behalf, in recognition of our amazing achievement.  This year we have decided to build on the work that we did last year.  We are continuing to focus on Waste, Litter and Biodiversity.  Check our website and school story for Eco School news and events.

Eco-Committee

Our Eco Committee has class representatives from EYFS2 – Year 6.  Eco Committee Reps work hard to promote environmental awareness.  Eco Committee Rep duties include working with their teachers and classmates to complete the ‘Eco School Environment Review’ and then to use the results of this to select our focus Eco Schools Topic Areas.  Reps attend meetings at our school and at The Flaxmill, with pupils and staff, from other schools in our Multi Academy Trust.  They discuss environmental issues and devise solutions.  Eco Reps are also the designated litter, light, recycling and composting monitors for their classes.  Eco Committee Reps and children across the school have a sound awareness of their role in the wider world through the study of other cultures.  Eco Reps ensure that everyone is doing their bit to help protect our environment, and they remind us that if everyone takes small steps, then together we can make a big difference.  Eco Reps also carry out regular litter-picking duties on the school grounds and we pledge bags of litter to the ‘Great Big School Clean’.  Eco Reps make bird houses and bird feeders, also prepare areas in the school grounds, and grow plants to attract wildlife. They encourage the whole school to take part in the ‘RSPB Big Bird Watch’.  They also encourage staff, pupils and families to take part in the ‘Big Plastic Count’.  Eco Committee ensure resources are available to support staff and pupils to recycle and compost effectively.  They organise and run a second-hand book, toy and costume stall at the school Summer Fair and they work with staff and volunteers from the Shrewsbury Food Hub:  a local environmental and social charity, that works to reduces food waste, as well as support local community groups.  Eco Reps also encourage staff and pupils to dress up for ‘Eco Schools Day, with an accessory or a costume made of recycling!  This year we will be rolling out an E-waste recycling scheme across the whole Multi Academy Trust, so if you buy new electronics for Christmas, make sure you save the old ones, so that they can be recycled and so that our school can win points towards new resources.  We will also encourage everyone to take part in the Duracell ‘Big Battery Hunt’ and the British Iron Works Centre ‘National Schools Crisp Packet Challenge’.  Look out for information on all of these schemes, on our website and on School Story, in the coming months.  We are very proud of our Eco Committee Representatives and the excellent job that do to promote environmental awareness at school, at home and in the wider community.