Here at Sustainability Club, we are serious about improving our School's carbon footprint, and aim to make our prints lighter and lighter.....

We started our club in September 2008 by identifying the places in our playground that we wanted to improve. That was the easy part! We planted some winter pansies in the entrance area and kept our indoor plants watered through the winter. Then we planned a mural project and lots of planting for outside. We thought of growing sunflowers (in pots behind the wall) around the aviary with sweet peas growing up some of the fences. We also want to grow vegetables like beans, lettuce and potatoes.

Since then we have been busy composting raw waste and litter-picking in the wildlife area (litter blows in from our surroundings).
Every week our club members become the ‘Green Police’ and check the classrooms to make sure that recycling bags are being used correctly, screensavers are on and windows are closed to save energy. This includes actioning a check list to ensure lights are switched out when not needed, projectors are only switched on when necessary and classrooms are heated to a comfortable, but not excessively warm, level. Each class is regularly given a Green Score for their effectiveness. Year 6 have been regularly taking meter readings so we can check that we really are saving energy. We also have a team of volunteer website checkers who update the sustainability board for everyone to see. We have found out how to save water and we put wool in the trees for birds to make their nests cosy.
Finally at the end of the Spring Term we celebrated ‘Sustainability Day’ and helped to make a bug hotel for the pond area.

Next we are going to meet an artist and work with an environmentalist to paint the mural. And we’ve got all that planting to do… If you have ideas or know ways to help us in our sustainable endeavours please get in touch!

We already have our "Bronze" award for Eco Schools, and are working hard to gain the more prestigious "Silver" Status.  For more information on Green Schools: check here.

Sustainability Club has also been exploring new ways to recycle in school and use more environmentally friendly equipment. The children have written to Newell Rubbermaid to find out more about recylcing our pens, and to the Science Museum to seek information on the Dyson Airblade handryer (which is reported to use 80% less energy than our existing warm air dryers).

Both companies have written charming and informative letters back to the Club, complimenting the children on their fabulous letter writing skills and their dedication to green issues. Please read their letters here:

Newell Rubbermaid (recycling pens)  Science Museum (Dysonairblade hand dryers)Waitrose (Recycling)