Staunton School scores a hat trick with third green flag award

Pupils and staff at Staunton-on-Wye Primary School are celebrating after learning that their school has been awarded the prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag for the third time.

The Green Flag award recognises the school's continued work in promoting education for sustainability. Pupils have organised a wide range of activities to reduce and recycle waste, save energy, protect wildlife, promote healthy living and learn about other parts of the world.

The school's eco-committee, which comprises 15 children and one teacher, recently embarked on a campaign to rid the area of plastic bags. With funding from the school's parent teacher association, they designed and ordered 100 recycled cloth bags to sell to the community. The children put up a display about how plastic bags can damage the environment to encourage people to use the cloth bags instead. Sales have gone well and the children are now well on their way to selling all the bags they ordered and breaking even.

Staunton-on-Wye Primary School head teacher, Pippa Lloyd, said: "Our pupils are keen to do what they can to protect the environment. The award of our third green flag shows that education for sustainable development is truly embedded in the curriculum and practices of our school."

Herefordshire Council's eco-schools representative, Antonia Fitch, is very proud of the school's achievement. She said: "The school is an exemplary model of eco-schools, first gaining the eco-schools green flag award in June 2004 then renewing in 2006 and for a third time in 2008. Well done and congratulations to all the staff, pupils and parents for keeping their school green."

To encourage other schools to become more sustainable, Herefordshire Council has organised a Sustainable Schools Conference on Thursday November 13th at the Hereford Racecourse.

The conference is for all teachers, headteachers, governors, parent teacher associations and bursars and will headline workshops and exhibitions on how to become more involved in eco-schools initiatives. As well as promoting good environmental practice, the conference aims to help schools save money on energy, waste and water bills. To find out more email
eco-schools@herefordshire.gov.uk