Southborough is awarded prestigious Distinction level Eco-Schools Green Flag for the Second Year Running!

It seems that all the hard work that Southborough’s Eco team of students has put into the school these past couple of years has once again paid off in dividends. Earlier this month Eco Team Lead Mr Howe received notification from ‘Eco Schools’ that the school had  -for the second year in a row -been successful in meeting the requirements for the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award. And at another Distinction level no less!

Eco Schools is part of the UK organisation ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ and the Eco-Schools programme provides a simple, seven-step framework that answers the question of ‘where do I begin?’ with regards to the big issue of protecting the planet, whilst empowering young people to make a difference in their school, local community and beyond. Since 1994, millions of young people around the world have worked through the Eco-Schools Seven Steps before being recognised for their efforts with a prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag.

Schools connect their activities to three or more of the Ten Eco-Schools Topics. These topics break large, global issues like climate change into more manageable and directed themes that prompt young people to consider environmental changes that they can make in their school and everyday lives.

Our Eco team’s main focus in recent years has been raising awareness of and actively putting in place a robust recycling programme within the school. In addition, they have focused on working on the mind-set of Southborough students to encourage everyone to take responsibility for their litter so that the school grounds remain clean and tidy. However, the team has also worked incredibly hard to attract biodiversity within the school’s courtyard garden and students and visitors alike are often impressed to see the sheer variety of wildlife – including birds, squirrels and a multitude of bugs  - enjoying the greenery, bird houses and bug hotels scattered amongst the trees and shrubs.

Last year was also the perfect time for planning, though. The Eco Team worked hard putting together ideas to further increase the biodiversity of the school grounds. They researched suitable plants to add to the garden and looked at what kind of insects and other wildlife they could attract. They also looked into what additional equipment and money they would need to put their ideas into practice and put together a detailed, costed action plan for this academic year.

In July, the Eco Team presented their plan to the school’s Senior Leadership Team and were thrilled to receive not just positive feedback but the news that they had been awarded a generous sum of money – funded by our wonderful P.T.A (Parent and Teacher Association) – to put their plans into action.

Fast forward to September and - brimming with enthusiasm, ideas and money in the kitty, so to speak  - the Eco Team are now champing at the bit to get started with their project.

We feel incredibly proud of the continued efforts of our wonderful Eco team students and that of staff members Mr Howe, Mr Mohamed-Pathusha and Mrs Bennet for their continued encouragement and support in moving initiatives forward.