Cowley International College is delighted and proud to have retained the prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag Award.
The Green Flag Award is an internationally recognised accreditation that is the highest award from Eco-Schools, given to schools that are working hard towards making and keeping their schools sustainable. It is based on 10 areas of sustainability: healthy living, waste, school grounds, litter, transport, marine, biodiversity, energy, global citizenship and water.
Eco-Schools reported back to the College, remarking: “You have embedded environmental topics into your curriculum with great enthusiasm and these issues are being used to enrich learning in your school whilst engaging your pupils with important environmental concepts, such as composting and climate change.
“Your waste topic, in particular, is a great example of your whole-school approach to environmental education.
“The projects outlined in your Action Plan, such as allotment visits and litter-picks, show that you have thought carefully about how you can involve the whole school and wider community to achieve maximum impacts and raise awareness.”
The award was first achieved by the College in 2021. To retain this award, the College’s Eco-Committee has put together an action plan for how the College can work on each of the 10 areas of sustainability and monitor them going forward.
There was a thorough Environmental Review conducted to see which sections of sustainability the College was already good at, such as a move to remove single-use plastic bottles from sale in the canteen and an increased knowledge and understanding of ways to save energy, while areas to further improve were suggested.
The College has also started an allotment for an extracurricular Gardening Club where the students have been composting all the food waste from the Food Technology department, as well as all the compostable waste from the staff rooms, which has drastically reduced the amount going to landfill and will continue to provide compost for Gardening Club in the years to come.
Cowley’s Principal, Mr Cormack, said: “Cowley is extremely proud to have achieved this award again. It is a reflection of the hard work of our Eco Committee, students and staff in caring for the environment in and around College.
“We are constantly introducing more measures to be as eco-friendly as we possibly can in order to help keep Cowley as sustainable as possible for future generations of Cowleians.”
The Green Flag Award is valid for two years, after which time the College must reapply for the accolade.
In the meantime, Cowley remains committed to running regular events, competitions and campaigns to make sure everyone knows about sustainability at the College, with an Eco-Committee functioning on both the 11-16 and Sixth Form sites for all students to be able to get involved with.
There will be an opportunity to meet the Cowley Eco-Committee and find out more about what they do at the College’s Open Evening on Thursday 14th September.
For more information about Eco-Schools, please visit www.eco-schools.org.uk.
Link:
Sustainability at Cowley