Eco-Schools
Welcome to Eco-Schools Scotland
The whole school, pupil-led approach to Learning for Sustainability
What is Eco-Schools?
Eco-Schools is the largest sustainable schools programme in the world with 19.5 million children, young people and educators engaged worldwide in 67 different countries.
Eco-Schools is operated internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful in Scotland.
Eco-Schools has common structural features across all operating countries. The Seven Elements makes up the core of all Eco-Schools programmes across the world.
Completing a Green Flag Journey is recognised by the Green Flag Award - a visible indication of your school's commitment to Learning for Sustainability and an internationally recognised accreditation for excellence in sustainable education.
The Green Flag Award
The Green Flag Award is an internationally recognised achievement for schools and nurseries committed to Learning for Sustainability. Flags can be seen flying outside our schools all over Scotland.
In order to achieve a Green Flag Award, we expect you to take action on three of our Ten Topics and that you fufill our Award Criteria. Our criteria is based on the Seven Elements, the core of the Eco-Schools programme.
Learn more by clicking on the Green Flag.
The Seven Elements
The Green Flag Award is based on the Seven Elements, the core of the Eco-Schools programme in every participating country.
We use an online application system, known as the Green Flag Journey, to help you to achieve your Green Flag Award. The Green Flag Journey ensures that you provide sufficient evidence for each of the Seven Elements and can achieve you Green Flag Award. Each Element builds the framework of our Award Criteria.
Ten Topics
On your Green Flag Journey you choose to work on three of the Ten Topics.
Litter is a mandatory topic and all applications must include at least three actions per topic. The other topics that can be selected are;
Biodiversity | Energy | Food and the Environment | Global Citizenship | Health and Wellbeing | School Grounds | Transport | Waste Minimisation | Water
As Eco-Schools is a pupil-led programme, each topic is chosen by the Eco-Committee.
Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)
Keep Scotland Beautiful is a member organisation of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) delivering the Eco-Schools, Wrigley's Litter Less and Young Reporters programmes in Scotland.
Formed in 1981, the Foundation for Environmental Education is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation promoting sustainable development through environmental education. FEE's mission is to engage and empower people through education in collaboration with members and partners worldwide. FEE through its mission of fostering awareness, knowledge, participation, commitment, skills, actions and creativity on the environment and on sustainable development, shares the core values behind the Sustainable Development Goals.
Eco-Schools was initiated by FEE in 1993, and is now offered by FEE member organisations in 67 countries.
We are grateful for the continued support of the Scottish Government as we deliver Eco-Schools Scotland.
