Introducing EcoSchools and Exploring the Links between Every Child Matters and the DCSF Sustainable

1
Introducing Eco-Schools and Exploring the Links
between Every Child Matters and the DCSF
Sustainable Schools Strategy Emma
JonesEducation Project Officer
2
Introduction

• About ENCAMS
• What is Eco-Schools?
• Getting started
• Benefits
• Links with other government strategies
• Eco-Schools news

3
ENCAMS

• Founded in 1954 by the Womens Institute who ran
  the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign
• Government funded charity
• Run public campaigns to change public behaviour

4
ENCAMS Programmes

• Eco-Schools

• Blue Flag

• Quality Coast Award

5
Eco-Schools Award SchemeBackground

• Programme developed by the Foundation for
  Environmental Education (FEE) in 1994 following
  the Earth Summit in Rio, 1992
• Need to involve young people in finding solutions
  to environmental sustainable development
  challenges
• Introduced into UK in 1995

6
Global Participation

• Eco-Schools operates in 44 countries
• Over 40,000 Schools are registered world-wide
• More than 6,000 schools have achieved Green Flag
  status globally
• 11,388 schools are working towards achieving
  green flag status in England
• 845 schools currently fly the green flag in
  England

7
Inclusive of Other Programmes and Award Schemes

• Eco-Schools has a whole school approach and as
  such works best in conjunction with other well
  established initiatives already in place in
  school
• All schools completing the Healthy Schools Award
  and International Schools Award can use the hard
  work they have completed for those schemes as
  evidence for their Eco-School awards
• Similarly work done with BTCV, Groundwork, BBC
  Breathing Places, School Travel Plans, Food for
  Life Partnership etc would also count

8
What is the Eco-Schools Programme?

• An international programme aiming to make
  environmental awareness and action an intrinsic
  part of the life and ethos of the school
• It encourages whole-school action for the
  environment, focusing on pupil leadership
• It is a recognised award scheme, rewarding
  accrediting schools committed to improving their
  environmental performance
• It is a learning resource, raising awareness of
  sustainable development citizenship issues
  through active involvement
• Provides international links for registered
  schools via www.eco-schools.net and via a new
  partnership with the British Councils Global
  Gateway

9
How it works

• Register through the website
• www.eco-schools.org.uk
• Set up an Eco-Committee / Action Team
• Perform an Environmental Review
• Write an Action Plan
• Deliver projects
• Apply for an Award

10
Awards

• Bronze level Award
• Silver level Award
• Green Flag Award (Assessor visits the school 1.5
  - 2 hour visit )
• Award Renewal (every 2 years)

11
Eco-Schools Themes

• Litter
• Waste
• Energy
• Water
• Transport
• School Grounds
• Healthy Living
• Biodiversity
• Global Perspective

12
Getting Started The Action Team
The action team must include

• Pupils (chosen or elected) from as many year
  groups as possible
• A member of staff

The action team is also encouraged to include

• A governor
• A parent
• A non-teaching staff member
• The caretaker or site manager
• A representative from the local authority

13
Small steps, big difference

• Switching off lights and electrical equipment
  when not in use use of timers and pupils to
  monitor each classroom
• Heating controls in each building change
  thermostat as necessary
• Insulation
• Energy efficient equipment
• Updating thermostats on radiators
• Energy efficient light bulbs

14
Small steps, big difference

• Changing the timer flush on urinals
• Push taps sinks and showers
• Hippos / blocks in cisterns
• Check old pipe work and cisterns for leaks
• Good use of stickers, signs and posters

15
Benefits

• Participating schools say that Eco-Schools helps
• To prepare Children for a changing world
• To promote creative thinking about global issues
• The whole school to work together
• To promote creative thinking about solutions
• In educating parents and the wider community
• In introducing alternative teaching styles
• To save money and create funding opportunities

16
Comments from OFSTED

• By the end of KS1, childrens appreciation of
  environmental issues is well above average. This
  reflects the opportunities children have to
  participate in the Eco-Schools Project
• Participation in the Eco-Schools project is
  encouraging a sense of responsibility towards the
  environment and the community.
• The Schools participation in the Eco-Schools
  initiative has encouraged pupils interest in
  geographical topics.

17
Linking with National Strategies DCSF National
Framework for Sustainable Schools

• Government initiative launched in spring 2006
• Focuses on social and environmental issues
• DCSF would like to see schools become models of
  sustainable development by 2020
• Eco-Schools can help schools achieve the
  Governments Sustainable Schools framework
• The Eco-Schools process and nine themes match up
  with the Sustainable Schools 8 doorways
• More info at http//www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustain
  ableschools

18
Linking Eco-Schools with the Eight Doorways
Buildings and grounds
Energy and water
Food and drink
Local well-being
Travel and traffic
Global dimension
Purchasing and waste
Inclusion and participation
19

• July 2007 ENCAMS asked by the DCSF to Map
  existing Award Programmes to
• Explain how each of the national programmes
  compliment each other and contribute to the
  Sustainable Schools Strategy
• Supported by Head Teachers in Industry and each
  of the main award schemes
• Document published by DCSF in July 2008
• Eco-Schools delivers all 8 Doorways across
  Campus, Curriculum and Community

http//www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools/
20
Information presented graphically with simple
explanations
21
Linking with National Strategies Every Child
Matters
The Government's aim is for every child, whatever
their background or their circumstances, to have
the support they need to

• Be healthy
• Stay safe
• Enjoy and achieve
• Make a positive contribution
• Achieve economic well-being
• More information at http//www.everychildmatters.g
  ov.uk

22
EDF Energy

• 4 year relationship
• Olympic Sponsor
• The Pod
• Show Sponsor

23
Training Courses

• One day courses
• Teachers How to deliver Eco-Schools
• Local Authorities How to support Eco-Schools
• Linked to NI Challenge and Display Energy
  Certification

24
Introducing
25
TheAsdan Environmental Award
26
Who can do it?

• Anyone from aged 11
• Where?
• Eco-Schools, schools, colleges, youth centres,
  residential courses, home-educated.

27
How long does it take?

• 10 hours
• 30 hours
• 60 hours
• credits

1
3
28
Eco-Schools for Early Years

• New resources available for childrens centres
  and nurseries
• Revised guidance and criteria

29
The Big Tidy Up

• National Tidy Up -
• Tie-in with the school-grounds theme of
  Eco-Schools
• Companies Encouraged to take part
• www.thebigtidyup.org

30
Eco-Schools Show 2009
31
Contact information

• Website www.eco-schools.org.uk
• E-mail eco-schools_at_encams.org
• ENCAMS
• Elizabeth House
• The Pier
• Wigan
• WN3 4EX
• Tel. [phone]