Pupils at Skegby Junior Academy, part of the Greenwood Academies Trust, have been awarded the Eco-Schools’ Green Flag in recognition of their work to make their Academy more environmentally friendly and raise eco-awareness.

Eco-Schools is an international education programme that prompts young people to explore sustainability and climate change, and take action. The Green Flag is awarded to schools to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate the ecological achievements of its young people.

Pupils, working with teacher and eco-coordinator Laura Haigh, conducted an environmental review to assess how eco-friendly the academy was — evaluating everything from the academy’s recycling practices and energy usage to how environmental themes are covered in the curriculum.

An eco-committee was launched as well as activities to enhance the academy’s green practices, focusing on biodiversity, recycling, and energy.

One activity saw pupils pick up litter and fill six black bin liners of rubbish. The academy also took part in a national schools partnership bottle-top competition that encouraged pupils, their families, and the community to collect bottle tops to repurpose for creative art projects.

Pupils learnt about biodiversity and planted 70 trees and hedges, donated by the Woodland Trust, around the academy, carefully choosing carefully-selected plots to ensure the trees would thrive in their new ecosystem.

In addition, pupils and staff committed to the academy’s new Eco-Code.

Laura said: “I am proud of the children and all the work they put in. At Skegby Junior Academy we equip pupils to succeed in an ever-changing world and be active citizens. So, our pupils’ passion for our planet is amazing to see.”