A Keep Britain Tidy initiative, the Eco-Schools England programme was launched in 1994 with the aim of supporting young people in delivering eco-projects to make their schools more sustainable, improving environmental learning and benefiting their communities.

The Eco-Committee student members at Springwood, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, had been working towards the award since January, with the support of our Environmental Lead Agnieszka Munns and the Trust’s Director of Engagement, Hayley Roberts.

“The Green Flag was awarded as a result of the school successfully completing its environmental review, which resulted in an action plan,” explained Mrs Munns. “The review identified issues and spotted gaps in its existing environmental activity, and helped pupils appreciate everything that was already being done to benefit the environment, and identified key areas to work on in the future.

“The school’s action plan, with considered accountability and evaluation sections, showed that the Eco-Committee had carefully considered how they could involve the entire school in its planned Eco-Schools’ activities, in order to achieve maximum impact and raise awareness amongst their school community.”

Measures praised by Keep Britain Tidy included Springwood’s energy monitors, ‘switch off’ campaign, and regular litter picks. The students’ hand-made ‘bug hotel’ and bird feeders also received honourable mention, along with a bird-watching trip to Roydon Nature Reserve, and the school’s involvement in the recent ‘Meadow of Hope’ eco-art installation.

“The impressive number of curriculum link activities were applauded for being ‘imaginative, practical and fun’,” continued Mrs Munns. “The awarding team were impressed by how the school has incorporated learning about global issues not only into the geography and science curricula, but also into other areas, such as PSHE [Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education] and art.

“They were impressed with how active the Eco-Committee has been in communicating activities school-wide, with both assembly and class feedback, and the use of posters and the school emails and social media, as well as the eco-noticeboard.”

Besides receiving an Eco-Schools certificate, Springwood was awarded the right to fly the Eco-Schools Green Flag – an honour it shares with fellow WNAT members Marshland, Smithdon, and St Clement’s, meaning all four of the Trust’s high schools have now achieved the prestigious accolade.

“The award demonstrates the school's commitment to be eco conscious, educates our pupils on the importance of the local environment, raises awareness of critical changes in the climate environment we are currently facing, and raises the need to protect the local wildlife and local areas by increasing its biodiversity,” said Mrs Munns.

“This is an important award for the school,” added Andy Johnson, Headteacher at Springwood. “Mrs Munns and the Environment Committee have worked tirelessly for the school continual improvement of our green credentials.”