Eco Schools Policy 2023-2
Forward by Academy Operations Manager:
Sustainable development is essential for the future of our community and our planet. Taking The Priory Learning Trust’s Sustainability policy as a starting point, we have encouraged our pupils to think about their environment and how their actions impact locally and globally. We have asked our eco club pupil members, with assistance from staff, to think about what policies we can implement at school level to encourage staff, pupils, visitors and families to develop and imbed sustainable behaviour.
These policies aim to:
● promote high standards of care for our school, our local environment and the wider world.
● increase awareness amongst our staff, families, and children of our impact on the environment and how we can lessen this impact.
● minimise the creation of waste, and wherever possible, reduce, reuse and recycle materials.
● develop a more responsible use of energy throughout our school and improve our energy efficiency.
● use environmentally friendly products wherever possible and to avoid the use of environmentally damaging products.
● promote sustainable travel and reduce the number of cars around school and in our community
- Printing and photocopying policy
Target:
● Save trees.
● Reduce resources required to produce paper.
● Reduce electricity needed to print.
● Reduce waste.
Printing and photocopying are accessed by assigned staff fobs only. The school will monitor printing every month and this will include analysis by user, as well as comparing usage across the Trust. Any excessive printing will be reviewed, and staff members reminded of good practice. Paper is kept in the school office to encourage staff to think about their requirements rather than allowing free access to resources.
The following questions should be asked before printing:
● Do I really need to print/copy this?
● Can I scan my work instead?
● Can I reduce the number of pages required?
● Can this be double sided, reduced in size or black and white only?
● Have I checked the document is correct before printing?
- Switch off policy.
The school will actively promote ‘switch off’ culture amongst pupils, staff and visitors. This will save energy and improve operations. We will use energy sparks to monitor our usage and manage energy use in school.
What we will do:
● Sticker all sockets with colour coded stickers so everyone is aware which sockets can be turned off after use.
● Create posters to remind school community to ‘switch off’.
● Monitor our energy usage.
● Regular reminders from school office to switch off, stressing importance of overnight, weekend and school holiday procedures.
● Encourage families to follow the same behaviour at home.
● Eco Club to take part in site spot checks.
● Ensure everyone is aware energy saving is everyone’s responsibility.
● Make use of natural daylight.
● Activate stand-by modes on ICT and printers.
- Energy and resource policy
Target:
● Reduce expenditure and environmental impact.
● Maintain Health and Safety standards.
● Maintain an acceptable level of comfort level for staff, pupils and other building users.
Overall responsibility lies with the Principal and AOM. Day-to-day energy management responsibilities lie with AOM. Waterhouse Electrical are responsible for compliance checks and servicing to ensure our heating, water and electrical systems are working efficiently and are of good standard. Weston Support Services are responsible for daily and weekly checks and general maintenance and caretaking duties. All staff will have the responsibility to set a good example to pupils on the issue of energy and water efficiency. The AOM and eco team will review energy and set realistic energy reduction targets.
Energy purchasing is currently undertaken by West Huntspill Primary school via Zenergi. We will consider the sustainability of the options available i.e. renewable energy resources and the carbon footprint implications. The school will check invoices monthly against meter readings for gas, electricity and water. Abnormal consumption will be investigated and corrective action taken. Energy targets will be set and monitored regularly.
What we will do :
● Regular awareness initiatives for staff and pupils including ‘switch off’ and ‘save water’ campaigns
● Staff and pupils will be provided with information on how to save energy at home.
● Report to Academy Council progress on our sustainability targets
● Add a section to fortnightly newsletter with tips on energy saving
● Regular communications will inform people outside the school of progress and pass on the energy saving message across to as many people as possible
● energy and water management will be built into the curriculum activities at appropriate levels.
● Liaise with TPLT premises team to implement changes that can help us conserve energy ie LED lighting, water heater timers
- Reduce waste and increase recycling policy
Target:
● keep our school free of litter
● reduce the amount of rubbish we send to landfill
● increase the amount of materials we recycle
● reduce the amount of goods we purchase
● Always consider the 3 Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle
What we will do to reduce our usage:
• Reduce water waste by installing water butts and ensure all taps are push-down taps
• Investigate the possibility of Solar panels (generating electricity from the sunlight and feeding back into the national grid),
• Hold ‘power off’ and ‘heating off ‘ days to promote sustainability in school community
• We ask staff to ensure that any electrical equipment is shut down when not in use.
• LED lighting in all areas
• Consider amount we print – is it necessary
• Review food waste from meal times
What we will do to reuse more :
• Office to hold ‘stationery’ amnesties at the end of each term so unused supplies and equipment can be re-distributed
• Furniture or larger equipment no longer required will be shared with other schools in the trust.
• If the item is no longer required for its original use can it be re-purposed?
• Rather than buying from new , do staff, parents, community have items they can donate instead?
What we will do to increase recycling :
• We ensure that the playground areas within our schools are provided with litter and recycling bins that are clearly marked and easily accessed.
• We ensure that the catering staff have access to food waste bins and are trained on how to use them.
• Staff and pupils are aware of the different recycling bins and impact of contamination
• Purchase recycled paper
• Do not laminate as this can then not be recycled
• Gardening materials are put into composting bins whenever possibleWe purchase recycled paper (and other school necessities) whenever possible, alongside this we monitor the amount of paper used for photocopying.
• We no longer purchase non-environmentally friendly glitter.
• Each class is provided with a recycling bin specifically for paper. These can also be found in the office and staff room.
• We ensure that the scrap paper from our printers and photocopiers is recycled or used in our classrooms and offices.
• We ensure that regular environmental education is undertaken in our school, with workshops and projects run to ensure knowledge and awareness amongst students and the wider community – for example, Carymoor
- Transportation policy
Target:
● Reduce the carbon emissions from unnecessary car journeys
● Encourage walking to school and importance of an active , heathy lifestyle
● Raise awareness
What we will do :
• We encourage cycling to school through bike-ability schemes.
• Cycle and scooter racks are available for staff and children.
• Where car use is unavoidable, school will encourage car sharing.
• Promote ‘walk to school’ weeks which families will be encouraged to take part in.
• Create a ‘switch off ‘ campaign to deter drivers from sitting stationary with the engine running.
• Educate pupils, ,staff and families on the damage carbon emissions cause to our environment.
• Promote the TPLT cycle incentive scheme to staff
• Promote the electric car purchasing scheme to staff
• Work related journeys to be car pooled with employees travelling together where possible
• Trips to be planned in conjunction with East Huntspill and Pawlett so we can share coach hire ie swimming, kilve residential etc
Policies implemented on - 25.06.2024
Policies to be reviewed on -25.06 2025
Signed by
Abby Priestley - Academy Operations Manager
Emma Barker - Principal
Marie-Claire Ladd - Eco Club lead