Going Green in School - What Students Can Do

For many of us, one reason to be more environmentally friendly is so we can leave behind a healthy planet for our children and subsequent generations. Getting our children inspired by eco issues is another way to ensure this baton is safely handed down the generations.

One way to do this is to take part in the Eco-Schools programme which aims to make every school a sustainable school by 2020. Schools can register free and then follow a simple seven-step plan which covers a variety of environmental themes. All schools - nursery, primary and secondary - can join. The process is student led - they form an eco-committee to address environmental issues within the school and liaise with staff and other pupils to push their ideas forward.

There is an Eco-Schools award system - Bronze, Silver and Gold and a much prized Green Flag, which is awarded for environmental excellence.

Another way to help ‘green' your school is to form your own Eco Group. Tom Etheridge of Dover Grammar School for Boys writes about his involvement in the Green Footprint Group and the exciting opportunities it led to:

The Green Footprint Group (GFG) was established at Dover Boys Grammar School in July 2007.The committee consisted of five secondary schools within the Kent area, whose aim was to improve the environment of the county targeting, in particular, schools and businesses. As British businesses are the biggest energy wasters in Europe, wasting a third of the energy used, they seemed suitable targets. An Eco-Business Day was held in December 2007, which saw over 100 representatives of local businesses and schools being educated by the GFG on how they could help protect the environment of Kent by reducing waste etc. This was a very successful event with much positive feedback and therefore encouraged the committee to hold an Eco-Primary Day where the same presentations were given to 100 primary school students but with a more scaled down and hands-on approach. This conference was held in February 2008.

We then branched out into selling 100% unbleached reusable cotton carrier bags which carried the slogan ‘This Bag Doesn't Cost the Earth'. We also sell GFG membership to primary schools. This membership entitles the primary school to an Eco-Roadshow which is an hour-long presentation in which GFG members teach pupils how the environment is being damaged and what they can do both within school and externally to help. Thirteen Eco-Roadshows were held over a period of four months. Membership also allows primary schools to gain eco awards with the help of the GFG and the Eco-Schools programme. The GFG carries out activities within the school such as pond digging and the construction of an eco code, so that primary schools are able to achieve the various Eco-Schools awards. The GFG itself won an Environmental Tryangle Award for its environmental work in local schools.

Despite this success, the committee hit a problem when the majority of the schools who formed it decided to drop out to concentrate on their studies. The Boys Grammar therefore decided to enter the Green Footprint Group into a competition called Young Enterprise in order to spread their Eco Message. Young Enterprise is an annual competition that allows young entrepreneurs the opportunity to run a business, sell shares and produce a product or service. The Green Footprint Group is made up of seven members: Jack Williams - Managing Director, Katy Tipping - Company Secretary, Jethro Thompson - Operations Director, Tom Etheridge -Human Resources Director, Sam Douglas - Marketing Director, Izaak Wilson - Finance Director and Ben Hindle - Sales Director.

The Young Enterprise competition consists of 5 rounds: firstly the School Finals, then the Area Finals, the County Finals and Regional Finals with the winners progressing to the National Finals in London to compete against the 11 other regions of the United Kingdom. The GFG progressed to the National Finals at the Park Lane Hotel in London and were crowned best Young Company in England with 2nd place overall, only just behind Scotland, the overall winners.

The GFG wasn't the only green company at the National Finals, which really shows how the green message is reaching the all-important younger generation and gives us hope for the future.

More information can be found about the Green Footprint Group at: www.thegfg.co.uk 

Information about the Eco-Schools programme can be found by visiting: http://www.eco-schools.org.uk