Sheffield school flies the flag for the environment
Brunswick Community Primary School was recently presented with the Eco Schools Green Flag Award following another successful renewal attempt.
The school in Woodhouse has held the award, which recognises excellence in action to improve the environment in both school and the community, for over 10 years and hosts an assessment visit every two years to renew its eco-school status.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHowever, it is the pupils that are the driving force at Brunswick, where there is a Green Team comprised of representatives from each year group and spearheaded by Foundation Stage 1 teacher Maddie Leszczynski.
The Green Team act to monitor the environmental performance of the school and showcase their findings on the school’s Eco-Board.
Throughout lessons students are taught about topics such as the importance of recycling and renewable energy, and are encouraged to walk to school to reduce pollution and harmful emissions.
Neil Frankland, headteacher of Brunswick Community Primary School, said: “We’re just really proud and it’s a massive part of our school ethos and is a great achievement for the school. The reason that we’re getting this and getting the renewal comfortably is just because it’s part of the day-to-day, the children just do it.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“They’re passionate about being an eco-school, passionate about sustainability, they switch lights off and switch the computers off.
“Part of being a primary school is preparing the children to be responsible citizens and this is it. They’re the ones that are going to be doing this when they’re older. If we don’t teach them now and they don’t have the right attitude then we’re all in bother.”
The school has also seen a 20 per cent reduction in its electricity bills and is working with Energy Sparks, a school-specific energy analysis tool, to monitor its energy usage and make the school more energy efficient.
After visiting Brunswick, Eco Schools assessors said: “There was clearly an ethos of environmental awareness at the school with the Eco-Code widely displayed. The environmentally themed collages made of recycled materials were particularly striking and it was interesting to see the Eco-Community display board in the hall, in addition to the Eco-Board.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“Sustainable development awareness is evident in planned lessons, for example climate change discussed in the context if ‘Chatterbox’ sessions, the ‘Brunswick Project’ and the Science Garden.
“Previous recommendations to improve Monitoring and Evaluation and use of really school data in maths graph work had been taken on board e.g evidencing a 20 per cent reduction in electricity bills compared to the previous year. Well done to everyone.”