Eco Schools
Hebden Royd holds the Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction, the highest level of the award. It's assessed nationally, and it recognises work that is led by children rather than by adults.
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
Twenty children,
one council
Our Eco Council has twenty members, elected by their classmates from Year 2 upwards. They decide which environmental issues the school takes on, plan the projects, and report back to everyone else. Our committee is led by Jamie Wardley (Environment Governor) and a small group of parents who support the children in action planning and carrying out the work needed to address each chosen topic.
It's a great example of our ‘courageous advocacy’ in action, and in the impact and influence we can all have, starting with our own schools and communities. What role models our pupils are!
Two things we’re proud of
Declaring a climate emergency
On World Environment Day our children declared a climate emergency and marked it by painting an enormous earth across the school field. It brought the whole community together and appeared on BBC News. When the Eco-Schools assessors looked at our year's work, this is the thing they singled out.
Our Eco Festival
In June, the Eco Council organised a family festival and picnic. The children planned and led activities and events like recycled crafts, a nature hunt and an endangered species game. There were badges, bubbles. Forest School activities and a solar karaoke. It was a great day with a positive message.
What have we been getting up to?
About Eco Schools
Eco-Schools is an international programme that puts environmental action in the hands of pupils. Schools work through seven steps, from forming a pupil-led Eco Committee to writing an Eco-Code, and choose focus topics from a list of ten that includes energy, waste, biodiversity, transport and global citizenship. The Green Flag is awarded on the strength of what the children actually achieve.
Thank you
None of this runs on the children alone. Parents come out on litter picks, volunteer alongside the Eco Council, turn up to the fair, and help with the practical work that makes the projects happen. Our environment governor gives a great deal of time to it. The support this school gets from the people around it is something special and we're grateful for it.
If you'd like to get involved, the Eco Council would be glad to hear from you.