Eco-Schools Awards
The pinnacle of the Eco-Schools journey is a school achieving its Green Flag Award. We know that amazing work is happening in schools and their communities to address the significant environmental issues that we face – from planting for nature and biodiversity, to cutting energy consumption, reducing water usage, and tackling litter and reducing waste.
Our first annual Eco-Schools Awards are an opportunity to highlight those Green Flag schools that have truly gone above and beyond in their Eco-Schools work, inspiring those around them and delivering innovative environmental action.
Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to make a nomination.
2023 winners:
Eco-Coordinator of the Year: Leah Belford, Wallace Hall Academy
Leah is responsible for leading Eco-Committees in the Primary, Junior Academy and Senior Academy and has recently helped the school renew its Green Flag Award for the fourth time.
She has lead numerous projects including: a school garden and orchard, whole school recycling project, litter picking, Dandelion Growing Project, pupil trips to COP26, making apple juice with local company, clothes swaps, and tree planting with Galloway Glens.
Leah is also a member of the Learning for Sustainability Partnership Group, a D&G Climate Champion and has delivered presentations to SWEIC on outdoor learning.
She has halved her own personal carbon footprint with active travel, switching to an electric vehicle, decarbonising her home from oil to air-source heatpump, and reducing plastic waste.
Climate Action Project of the Year: Crawforddyke Primary School
Climate Action is a significant part of the School Improvement Plan at Crawforddyke Primary School and has been embraced by pupil and staff across all cohorts.
Their Climate Action project started with community litter picks, which led to a Litter Protest March by P1, who campaigned to clean up a local area known as "Jock's Burn" in partnership with Clydeside Ranger Service.
This led to continued litter picks by groups of volunteers, a clear-up by local youth groups and the area being awarded Nature Reserve Status.
A feature film was made as a result, and pupils now use this area regularly for outdoor learning in partnership with the Nursery next door.
In addition, the school choir participated in the Lanarkshire Glee Challenge, with the theme being Climate Action and were awarded first Runner-Up!
This year, Crawforddyke pupils celebrated the King's Coronation by creating a large crown filled with each child's sustainability "pledge on a post-it", recognising the role King Charles has had in promoting sustainability and climate action.
Eco-Committee of the Year: St Patrick's Primary and Nursery
St Patrick's Eco-Committee are a group of unique motivated pupils from across year groups, who meet twice a month to discuss environmental issues within the school community.
This Eco-Committee is led solely by young people. Issues and actions are selected by them and their passion for global issues.
The Eco-Committee have been successful in developing awareness of environmental challenges in their own community and the wider world. They motivate others within the school community to improve and maintain environmental quality.
Examples of their recent projects include a sustainable fashion shop where pupils learned how choosing second hand clothing can protect our oceans from polluting chemicals.
The Eco-Committee also gave workshops and assemblies, highlighting how air pollution from traffic is a pressing threat to everyone’s health which resulted in an increase in the number of pupils choosing active travel.
