Lady Hastings Primary School achieves EcoSchools Green Flag Award
Just 18 months after expressing their interest in progressing with the award scheme, with the support of the Boston Spa, Wetherby and Villages Community Green Group, the school have successfully gained the coveted accreditation.
Katie Barnett, Headteacher says “I am really proud of the Eco Council, children, staff and Boston Green group who have worked so enthusiastically to develop our school environment and local area. It is lovely that this hard work has been recognised with the Green Flag Award"
The school started the scheme by carrying out a full Environmental Review in the summer of 2023. The schools EcoCouncil helped look at various topics across the school, such as Waste, Water, Litter, Energy, Biodiversity, Transport as well as the schools focus on Healthy Living, the school grounds, Global Citizenship and the Marine environment.
From this the EcoCouncil (made up of children from each year group) decided on 3 aims that they wished to achieve over the school year;
- Reduce the amount of litter in the school grounds and surrounding community
- Reduce school energy usage
- And Restore nature in school grounds
Activities throughout the school year included assigning litter monitors, weekly litter picks and taking part in the Keep Britain Tidy Great Big School Clean in March.
The school also took part in a ‘low energy use’ day to recognise Earth Day in April and the walk to school campaign in May. Ongoing energy awareness was shared across the school, with posters in classrooms, energy savings tips in the newsletter and the older children taking regular readings of the schools electricity meter with the Caretaker.
With help from the teaching staff, lots was done throughout the year to understand and improve nature, which included making bird feeders, insect houses, planters, as well as taking part in the RSPBs Big Schools Birdwatch in January.
Katie Tait, Teacher and EcoCouncil lead went on to say 'The Eco-Council were very enthusiastic about achieving the Green Flag Award and improving their school. I'm proud of the work they have done over the past year to achieve this award and educate other children in the school. With the help of Adrian, from Boston Spa, Wetherby and Villages Community Green Group, the Eco-Council have had a positive impact on Lady Elizabeth Hastings' that will continue into the future.'
Adrian Balcombe, Chair of the Community Green Group, was delighted to have been able to support the school with their desire to achieve this award. He goes on to say ‘it was wonderful to hear the enthusiasm from the broader teaching staff, as to how the curriculum was being used to further the understanding around the 3 themes too’.
‘It is interesting to note, that by 2025 all education settings are expected to have a Sustainability lead and a Climate Action Plan in place. As part of the STEM Learning, Climate Ambassadors initiative (climateambassadors.org.uk)’, Adrian can assist with this. Please get in touch at adrian.balcombe@bostongreengroup.co.uk
