THE Mead Community Primary School is celebrating achieving the Eco-Schools Green Flag award, after working hard to make sure sustainability is an integral part of everyday school life.

Eco-Schools is an international award programme that encourages schools to look at all aspects of sustainability, including everything from composting and healthy eating to energy saving and recycling.

There are only 98 holders of the Green Flag in the south west, which is the programme’s highest award, with just over 1,200 holding the Green Flag nationally.

In order to achieve the Green Flag, the school had to have an active Eco Team, which consists of Eco Buddies from all classes and year groups along with staff, governors and parents. To celebrate the achievement, the Green Flag was raised last Tuesday in front of the whole school 

Headteacher of The Mead Emma Holton said: “We are hugely proud of this achievement. It was a real team effort. Everyone in the school has a role to play in making our school green and we will continue to work hard to be a sustainable school into the future.”

The Eco Team meets regularly and leads activities throughout the school, making sure lights are turned off and doors shut, fruit waste is emptied into the compost heap and encouraging fellow pupils and teachers to follow the Eco code. 

It also completes an Environmental Review covering the Eco-Schools nine topics every six months, with some of the team’s key actions including the introduction of a Green procurement policy and initiating changes in lighting choices and cleaning products. 

The school has also been focusing on healthy eating, developing its school grounds, composting, energy reduction and green travel, while the Bike-it Crew is very active and encourages all children to get to school using bikes, scooters, or walking wherever possible. 

Mel Jacob, school governor, added: “Teachers Trudi Stevens and Sophy Scruby are the class teachers who have supported the Eco Buddies and motivated them. They work really hard to remind everyone about their responsibilities and set a good example. 

“The Eco Buddies have been hugely successful in reducing the school’s energy usage and are great at reminding their teachers to turn off lights and electrical equipment when not in use.”