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The Green Society has recently obtained the Silver Award for its work in reducing the school's environmental footprint. Here is a selection of the criteria we have met to receive the award:

• (a) "The school has identified an Action Team which has met on at least four occasions. The Action Team includes a parent and/or governor representative"
• (b) "The Action Team has completed a formal Environmental Review and has recorded the results" ... through our waste and electrical usage reviews
• (c) "The Action Team has produced a detailed Action Plan (including timescales and targets) and shared the plan with the rest of the school community"
• (d) "The Action Team can demonstrate progress towards achieving at least two elements of the Action Plan". This includes our reduced waste throught the paper recycling scheme and reduced electrical usage through the "Switched on? Switch off" campaign
• (e) "The school can identify progress towards one large-scale project and indicate involvement with two others. ‘Identify progress’ means that the school has an understanding of the project topic and recognises its importance to sustainable development within the school environment and the wider community". This includes our Eco-woodland project, and donating compost to the gardening society (reducing food miles)
• (f) "The school has a prominent, designated noticeboard, web pages or newsletter which details Eco-Schools activities"...Like this website?
• (g) "The school has informed parents and the wider community about the work being undertaken by the school in relation to Eco-Schools" - ditto
• (h) "The school can indicate that some environmental issues have been covered within curriculum work in most Year groups". Geography, Chemistry (impact of fossil fuels), Physics (energy sources), Biology (impact on ecosystems) ...
• (i) "The school has agreed, adopted and displayed an ‘Eco-Code’" in almost every classroom.

Find out more about the Eco-schools project at their website
Eco-schools Website

Colyton Green Society has registered with the Eco-Schools programme and so becomes part of an international group of schools working towards sustainable schooling. To receive the Bronze Award we have:

• (a) Identified an Action Team (The Green Society) which has met weekly.
• (b) Completed an Environmental Review of waste and energy use.
• (c) Produced a basic Action Plan and shared the plan with the rest of the school community.
• (d) Identified progress towards achieving elements of the Action Plan.
• (e) Indicated that some environmental issues have been covered within curriculum (Geography, Science, RE, DT, French, Citizenship)
• (f) A designated Green Society notice-board; web-pages and newsletter articles etailing the activities being undertaken towards achieving the award.

As already proud owners of a Bronze Award for green activity, the school battles onwards in the struggle for eco-friendly and sustainable use of resources, with high hopes of a Silver and maybe even Green Flag Award in the future. The Green Society has been planning next year's activities which include composting and an "Eco-woodland reserve". So, with Bronze in the bag, the grass can only get greener.