Pupils at Hazlegrove Prep School awarded a prestigious Eco-Schools’ Green Flag
This academic year, pupils at Hazlegrove Prep School received international accreditation for their exceptional work in promoting sustainability and raising environmental awareness amongst their peers.
The Eco-Schools programme, established in 1994, is now implemented in over 70 countries worldwide. In 2023-24, more than 1.4 million pupils attended an Eco-School in England.
Pupils at Hazlegrove used Eco-Schools’ tried-and-trusted seven-step framework to create positive change. Initially, a pupil-led Eco-Committee was established. This committee took responsibility for spearheading their school’s environmental initiatives, with support from Amanda Benbow. They first conducted a thorough review of their school environment and curriculum, before developing a year-long plan of action.
Their Action Plan focussed on key issues: improving recycling, to enhance the environment, creating more areas for wildlife and exploring potential for growing more produce, and addressing food waste. Activities included analysing single use plastic with the catering team, creating a recycling fashion club, ensuring paper recycling in all of the classrooms, also identifying areas to re-wild as well as working on a kitchen garden project and regenerate the school pond. These activities were thoughtfully selected to increase environmental awareness, bolster the school’s sustainability, and make meaningful contributions to global conservation efforts.
Speaking about their achievements, Amanda Benbow said, 'It has been fantastic to see the eco-enthusiasm of the pupils at Hazlegrove, and their passion to improve practices and change mindsets was the driving force behind the projects we undertook over the last year. Thanks to them we are helping Hazlegrove to become a more environmentally considerate and sustainable community.’
Eco-Schools England Manager, Adam Flint, said: ‘The Eco-Schools’ Green Flag is an international benchmark that demonstrates a commitment to fighting climate change and high standard of sustainable practice. Students and staff who earn this award deserve recognition for their dedication toward protecting our planet. Every day, they demonstrate that each of us can contribute to making our planet a better, more sustainable, place.’
September 2024