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What is ´Sustainable Development´?
´Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.´
´Improving the quality of life while living within the earth´s carrying
capacities´, World Conservation Union, United Nations Environment
Programme and the World Wide Fund or Nature, 1991, ´Caring for the Earth´.
´Education is critical for promoting these issues. Education influences reflects the values of the society and the kind of society we want to be. It is also a route to a quality of opportunity for all.´
´We all have the responsibility to develop our children´s awareness and understanding of and respect for the environment in which they live and to secure their commitment to sustainable development at a personal, local, national and global level.´
National Curriculum (2000) for England.
At Woodheys through our curriculum, assemblies, Eco School council and general expectations of our school community, we are supporting pupils so that they can develop the skills to ´participate in the decisions about the way we do things individually and collectively, both locally and globally, that will improve the quality of life now, without damaging the planet for the future´. (National Curriculum (2000) for England )
We must not forget that the aim of education is not just to learn facts but to learn values. Together we will do the best we can!
Eco Schools News
Keeping the Flag Flying!
We have proudly flown our Eco Schools green flag since 2001 and it is time for us to apply for re-assessment for a third time. This will involve a team of pupils undertaking a review of the school and grounds from an environmental point of view. From this review we will draw up an action plan and an ‘Eco Code’ which will remind everyone in the school community about our main aims. Once this has been done and we are confident that our environmental work is continuing well, we can invite in the Eco Schools assessors to see if we still measure up to the very exacting standards required of this prestigious national award. We’ll keep you informed of our progress!
Eco School Council
When we first become involved with the Eco-Schools programme, we set up an Eco-Committee of pupils, staff and parents, who met regularly to discuss environmental issues. As time has gone on, however, we have decided that we should widen their remit to include all sorts of issues, including the environment, and have renamed them our ´Eco School Council´. This new name reflects our commitment to citizenship and sustainability and the importance we place on giving our pupils a voice and a chance to participate in decision making at Woodheys.
This is our team of Junior Road Safety Officers. They work closely with the Trafford Borough Council Road Safety Team to organise displays and competitions to teach other pupils all about how to be safe on and near roads.
In October we held our annual Eco School Council election and now have 12 excellent new representatives for 2008/9. Each class from Year 3 – Year 6 has chosen two pupils to represent their ideas at regular meetings, which are also attended by adults including Mrs Daniels (Headteacher), Mrs Eyden (Staff Governor/Higher Level Teaching Assistant/Environmental Projects Co-ordinator), Mrs Bloor (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) and Mr Flynn (Site Manager). Other adults from our school community are always welcome to come along as and when they can.
The results of this year’s election were as follows:
| Y3K | Luke Sowerby and Lauren Burgess |
| Y3/4K | Keir Wishart and Laura Sutherland |
| Y4A | Alykhan Ladha and Tara Faily |
| Y5F | Henry Brownlow and Dominic Chapman |
| Y5/6B | Olivia Ziprin and Charlotte Murray |
| Y6H | Ciaran Finn and Zahra Ladha |
Well done to them all!
How the Eco School Council Works
The Eco School Council meets at least once every half term and reports back to everyone at the whole school assembly following each meeting. Each representative makes sure they regularly ask their classmates for ideas, suggestions and problems to discuss at meetings. Anyone can use the ´Eco Suggestions Box´ on the main corridor if they have an idea or suggestion to share or a problem to be discussed. The Eco School Council members consider the contents of the box as part of the agenda at every meeting. From time to time, the Eco School Council works with other pupil groups in school, such as the Energy Team, Junior Road Safety Officers, Recycling Team and Eco Monitors, to make sure that we are all working together to make the school a more sustainable place.
On the right is a photograph of our Energy Team. They read the meters and check if windows and doors are shut. We don’t want to waste energy or money!
´Schools who demonstrate leading practice in sustainability´.
Waste Not Want Not
Our Recycling Team work very hard every week to make sure that we recycle as much paper as we can. We make sure that we use both sides before we throw it out, however! We were one of the first schools in Trafford to be given our own paper bank, which is regularly emptied. This year, we made a fascinating visit to the landfill site at Pilsworth, near Bury, and found out exactly what happens to all our waste. It has made us all the more determined to recycle as much as we can!
Money for Old Rope?
Well, not yet, exactly! However, in the meantime, we have made lots of money through two schemes run by recycling companies.
First of all, we now use the services of a company called Bags 2 School, in place of our previous jumble sales. Twice a year, they supply us with more than enough bags for all our school community to fill with unwanted clothes and household items. The filled bags are brought into school on an appointed day to be collected and weighed. We receive a good price per kilogram, there are no problems regarding storage or sorting contents and all the goods go to a charitable cause. Excellent news all round!
Secondly, we make money out of recycling used computer ink cartridges and unwanted mobile phones. A company called Recycool supplies us with collection boxes, which they also remove when full. We receive a good price for every full box and can even encourage members of our school community to have a box sponsored for us in their workplaces.
As an Eco-School, we are delighted with these two schemes, which help us to recycle everyday items. If you can suggest other ways of reducing the amount of rubbish going to landfill sites, we´d love to hear from you!
Solar Panels
Spreading the word
We continue to welcome visitors to our school and members of our staff also visit conferences and other venues to give talks and learn from others. This year, we have given presentations at two major conferences and our Eco School Council has been very much involved in consultations about the new extension to the school. We have welcomed a wide variety of visitors, including the leader and Chief Executive of Trafford Borough Council.
Our pupils are also involved in a joint project based on improving our local area and have been meeting up regularly with pupils from two other local Primary Schools.
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