Eco Schools
What is Eco-Schools?
The Eco-Schools programme provides a simple framework to enable your school to analyse its operations and become more sustainable.
By following the programme, your school will become a more stimulating place in which to learn, whilst reducing the environmental impact of the whole school on the community.
The scheme is rooted in a genuine desire to help children become more effective citizens by encouraging them to take responsibility for the future of their own environment. It is not about environmental excellence, it is about your school starting to look at how it impacts upon the environment and how this is decided upon and can be managed.
Pupil involvement is a key part of the Eco-Schools programme. Having pupils engaged in the whole process, including monitoring, action planning and decision-making, leads to genuine ownership of the programme and an increase in their sense of responsibility for the school environment and local area.
Eco-Schools begins with registration. Once registered your school will be part of an international group of schools working towards education for sustainable development (ESD) and a better quality of life for local and (through joint action) global communities.
It is also an award scheme that will raise the profile of your school in the wider community.
There are three award levels:
- Bronze award - self-assessed via website leading to a certificate
- Silver award - self-assessed via website leading to a certificate
- Green Flag - externally assessed leading to a certificate and flag
Eco-Schools is run internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). It is administered by ENCAMS in England and Tidy Northern Ireland in Northern Ireland. Eco-Schools is supported by a wide variety of partners.
How to register
The first stage in the Eco-Schools process is registration. Before registering please ensure that your Headteacher and, ideally, the governing body are keen to support this programme.
Following registration you will be part of the Eco-Schools programme, which means that you will receive updates and information, links to helpful organisations and potential assistance from your local authority.
If you have not yet registered, you can fill the Eco-Schools online application
Talking Litter Bins for schools
Liverpool City Council has embarked on a city wide campaign to help remove litter from streets in and around the vicinity of our schools.
To help achieve this schools will have /or soon have your allocation of Talking Litter Bins. The bins are meant for the collection of general rubbish. The issue of recyclable materials is due to be addressed under the ECO banner later in the year, as resources permit.
The bins have an automatic voice messaging system that we hope will encourage pupils to use them. Schools can change the message to suite their needs. This could be for their own specific environmental issues or if wanted to get a particular school message out. Council officers may from time to time also request that schools change the message to one that might fit with a future city initiative.
The bin, which is fire resistant, gets delivered with a lock and chain for daytime security in the playground.
For further information or suggestions for messages to record please email enforcement@liverpool.gov.uk or call 0151 233 3001