Information – Page 3 – Ardrossan Academy Eco Schools

Visit to Glasgow Allotments and Potato Day

I took a trip up to Glasgow Allotment Forum’s Potato day with the three towns growers to pick up some seed potatoes for our school allotment. Whilst I was there I went to a workshop on school gardens and planning accordingly, and square foot gardening. Both workshops were really helpful and I will be uploading the resources soon. There was a band there that only sung songs about fruit and vegetables, and all the people I talked to were very helpful. After that we went to Kelvinside allotments, which are well established, to get some ideas for our own plots. I took plenty of pictures which I will also post!

Our New Noticeboard!

A big thank you to Rhanna, Robyn, Erin, Marie-Ann, Clare, Rachel and Ben who showed up today to make our noticeboard look fab! Environmental Review is our next big task.

Green Flag Award Criteria

So we are going for our green flag. What do we really need to do? Here is the criteria (you could call it the success criteria! haha) for green flag:

The Eco Committee

Pupils put themselves forward, and are selected by their peers to be part of the Eco Committee.
Pupils are given the opportunity to nominate some adult members on to the Committee for specific tasks
The Committee sometimes co-opts adult members on to the committee for specific tasks
The Committee meets at least once every half term.
Minutes are kept of meetings showing how decisions have been made, and pupils share the minute-taking responsibility with adults
Minutes are displayed on an Eco-Schools notice board
Reports of Committee meetings are presented at school board/Parent Council meetings
Pupil members of the Committee are responsible for taking ideas from the rest of the pupils and reporting back result of Committee meetings to all the classes or forms in the school

Environmental Review

Pupils and Adults on the Eco Committee plan and carry out an Environmental Review of the School in consultation with some non-Committee members
A review document is used that covers all areas of environmental impact
The results of the Review are collated into one document for display on the Eco-Schools notice board and website (if the school has one)
Pupil members of the Committee collect suggestions for action from school classes or tutor group
An Environmental Review is undertaken once a year to evaluate overall progress

Action Plan

The Action Plan is included in the school development or improvement plan
Pupils on the Eco Committee take responsibility for leading some action areas
The Action Plan prioritises targets
The Action Plan shows cost implications and include how activity will be monitored and evaluated
The Action Plan is displayed on the school’s Eco Notice Board in a clear, pupil-friendly format.

Monitoring & Evaluation

The Eco Committee ensures that evaluation of action is ongoing, appropriate to the activity monitored and that some of it is carried out by pupils
The whole school is aware of progress of environmental action, and is given the opportunity to evaluate its effect through discussion and debate
The Eco Committee meets to review progress and analyse the data collected
They build on successes and decide on remedial action when activities are not proving successful
Some monitoring data is used for curriculum work

Linking to the Curriculum

The school has a named individual responsible for environmental education/sustainable development education
The school has a curriculum plan integrating a range of environmental issues into the curriculum across some year groups or classes in a range of subjects
Aspects of Eco-Schools activities are integrated into a range of subjects across the curriculum for the majority of classes or year groups
Issues surrounding sustainable development are explored through curriculum activities in many year groups
(Secondary schools only) The school has conducted a comprehensive Curricular Audit for Sustainable Development Education.

Involving whole school and wider community

Eco-Schools activities are displayed on a notice board inside/outside the school Displays of Eco-Schools Activities are put up for the local community for example in the library, local shop, church or community hall
Eco-Schools activities are integral to the school and the whole school engages in an annual Day of Action (or similar activities)
The wider community is involved in the activities going on in the school; for example local council officers and members of local businesses, or environmental organisations
The school has approached the local press to cover its Eco-Schools activities.
Details of the school’s Eco-Schools activities are put on the School’s web site (if the school has one)

Eco Code

The whole school is given the opportunity to make suggestions for what they believe should be included in the Eco Code
The Eco Committee drew up a Code from suggestions collected, and presented it to the school for approval
The Eco Code is displayed on the Eco Schools notice board and in all classrooms. It is also displayed on any outside notice board and the school’s web site (if the school has one)
The Eco Code is reviewed by the whole school every year to make sure it remains relevant

Source: http://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/sustainable-development-education/eco-schools/awards/green-flag-award/green-flag-award-criteria/

We did it!

We have now officially completed our silver award!

Thank you to all those who spoke with us, including the lovely lady from the soil association about food for life, and Craig Hanning from the council who is helping us form a litter strategy.

Lets go for Green!

School Grounds Survey

We will be coming round Personal Support classes this week to evaluate school grounds.

Feel free to comment any answers or suggestions!

Questionnaire

What is the worst area of the school grounds?

Outside the cafeteria
Beside the Astroturf
Car Parks
Main Ground (Between B Block and Main building)

What are the main issues?

Vandalism
Litter
Disrepair

What do you feel would improve this?

Paintings/Murals
More Bins
Litter Picks
Planting flowers and tidying up overgrown areas
Sheltered areas
More Bins

Any other suggestions?

There will be a meeting on Wednesday at lunchtime to discuss the issue further, feel free to come along.

Younger Pupils Needed

As part of our green flag award, we must make the Eco committee sustainable. Currently most of our members are in S5, so we need pupils interested in Eco issues (it’s not just litter picks!) from the junior school to join.

If interested, please contact Sophie Gribben in S5 or Ms. Gilmour in Chemistry.

Awards and Qualifications

Following a meeting with our wider achievements officer, all committee members have the opportunity to undertake the following (read as: Just do it!!) ;

Saltire Award

John Muir Award

Level 5/6 Leadership

Level 5/6 Volunteering

Youth Dynamic Award

Younger pupils can also do;

Eco Youth Dynamic Award

Litter Strategy

We have recently held a meeting with Craig Hanning to discuss monitoring litter around our school area, and have decided to split it up into small sections and rate the quality of each one from A to D.

We are meeting with him again to do the initial survey, and also hopefully organise the quad to be cleaned.

Updates to follow

Food for Life

We are looking for pupils who have an interest in H.E. and eco issues to join our food for life group, an initiative set up by the soil association to combat food waste and promote a culture of loving food. If you are a senior school pupil and are taking H.E. we would love to have you. If interested speak to Ms. Devlin in H.E.

Our New Eco Schools Co-ordinator

Mrs Gilmour has very kindly offered to become our new new eco schools co-ordinator, which will allow us to record the eco committee as a volunteering position for our saltire award. She is also on the three towns growers allotment committee, which is a great link with the wider community. We look forward to continuing forward with her.