WORKINGTON Academy have been awarded a coveted Eco-Schools Green Flag for their eco-awareness.

Students at the school earned the international accreditation after their hard work in making their school more environmentally friendly and raising eco-awareness in fellow pupils.

Eco-Schools is an international programme that prompts young people to explore sustainability.

Eco-Schools England Manager, Adam Flint, said:

“Earning an Eco-Schools Green Flag Award takes passion, commitment and a desire to make a difference. Pupils should be proud of their great work. They’re an inspiration and it makes us feel heartened and positive about the future of our planet.”

The schook formed the Eco-Committee who collaborated with Geography teacher Dr Dooling to conduct an environmental review, assessing how eco-friendly their school is.

They reviewed everything from the school’s recycling practices, to energy usage, to how environmental themes are covered in classrooms. The Eco-Committee then planned a year of activities that would help them achieve their green-credentials.

The group connected their work to 3 Eco-Schools topics: School Grounds, Waste and Energy

Activities the committee planned include planting over 400 trees across the school site with Yr5 pupils from 9 local primary schools, saving over 650 pens and other writing implements from going to landfill waste through the TerraCycle scheme, and appointing student Energy Monitors to make sure staff were remembering to turn off all electrical equipment at the end of the school day

Mr Bird, Executive Headteacher said:

“I am really proud of the way our school community has approached key environmental issues.  They have been proactive, creative and determined in their approach to delivering on the priorities they highlighted in the environmental audit.  The Eco-Committee have gone from strength to strength and I know they have big plans for the future.”

Ella Harrison, student chairperson of the Eco-Committee reflected on the year’s achievement:

“Eco-Committee has allowed me to help my school do its part to help the environment. We now have recycling bins in our canteen and trees planted all around the school grounds. I feel like the Eco-Committee was something missing from my life, but I now feel like I can change the world for the better.”

Read more: NHS rolls out Electric vehicles across North West