Sixth Eco-Schools Green Flag Award for Yarm School

Yarm School are celebrating as the Senior School have been successful in gaining their sixth Eco-Schools Green Flag Award – and a plaque to mark their achievement!

The Eco-Schools programme provides a unique opportunity that empowers pupils to lead change within their school and have a positive impact in their wider community. The programme encourages pupils of all ages to work together to develop their knowledge and environmental awareness.

Students promote an Eco approach across the school; focusing this year on their chosen areas of improvement – biodiversity, waste and litter.

In Textiles, pupils used recyclable materials to create fashionable garments for the Eco Fashion Competition which takes place at the annual Fashion Show. The Art Department had a recyclable sculpture project, using waste household materials to create animal sculptures displayed around the school site. During School activity sessions the Community Action Group has been collecting litter, while pupils in the Herb Gardening activity are involved in caring for the various green spaces around school. The Eco-School committee also introduced a new battery recycling bin.

The wonderful work being done to support the environment is shared throughout the school in assembly and via the Eco Board, and pupils have their own Eco Code which reflects the aims and priorities of the school.

Headmaster Huw Williams said: “We are delighted to accept our sixth Green Flag Award, it is a huge achievement for our school and the local community. Our pupils are at the heart of the school’s efforts to meet the standards required to earn this accolade.

“We take our environmental responsibilities incredibly seriously and recognise the importance of awareness in education, as well as considering these issues in our strategy and capital development plans. We will build on this success by developing our Eco-Schools Action Plan which will see new initiatives implemented. The Eco-Committee and staff will continue to engage and educate our pupils on environmental issues.”

The Eco-Schools assessors said: “Our team enormously enjoyed reading your evaluations of each of your chosen topics – it’s clear that you’ve had a very successful year all round.

“Your work to reduce waste and increase recycling will have had a real impact on everybody at your school and your local environment, and provides solid foundations for future Eco-Committees to build on.”

Simone Sharma, Lower Sixth, said: “The comments from the assessors truly convey the real progress and positive impact that Yarm School has on the environment. I’m really proud that all our hard work and dedication led to the fantastic achievement of our Sixth Award!”