Eco-Schools: Events

Eco-Schools Celebrate their Green Credentials

Pupils from nursery, primary, secondary and special education schools across Edinburgh attended an annual event, this year held at Edinburgh Napier University, on Monday 7 June to celebrate their successful progress through the Eco-Schools programme.

The children and young people gave demonstrations of projects they have undertaken and shared their ideas and experiences. They also discussed how they are spreading awareness of environmental and sustainability issues within their school and communities.

The international Eco-Schools programme, currently running in 240 city schools, encourages pupils and teachers to develop projects which improve their local environment and develop an awareness of wider green issues.

So far, 154 schools in Edinburgh have gained the Bronze award, 119 the Silver award, and 40 have the top green flag. A further 20 schools have gone on to achieve two green flags and seven have been awarded an impressive three green flags. One school, Portobello High, have permanent Eco School status with four green flags. They were the first secondary school in Scotland to reach this stage. To achieve this, schools cover topics such as water, health and wellbeing, waste minimisation, litter, transport, school grounds, biodiversity and energy, which links with most curriculum subjects and also fits well with the new Curriculum for Excellence.

City Education Leader Cllr Marilyne MacLaren said: “Encouraging our young people to take an interest in the environment, and to be aware of the impact they make, is crucial in making our whole city cleaner and greener now and in the years to come.

“The Eco-Schools programme gives young people the chance to learn about the role they can play as they go through life and the success rate that we are seeing from Edinburgh schools is fantastic.”

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