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Environment and greener living

Greener schools: what parents can do

Parents can help reduce the environmental impact of the school day. You can help directly, for example by thinking about how your child gets to school. You may also be able to have an influence through any active involvement you have with the school, such as being a parent governor.

Getting to school

One of the main areas where you can have an effect is choosing how your child gets to school. Private car travel is a big source of carbon emissions, so if you can find alternative ways of getting to school this will make a difference. Things you could do include:

  • when travelling to school try to use greener methods of transport – cycling, walking or public transport
  • consider helping with a walking bus service for the school (a supervised walk to school scheme)
  • suggest that your school supplies pupils with secure cycle sheds and takes measures to ensure safe routes to school
  • if you have to travel by car, see if you can share with a neighbour or friend

Food and drink

Producing, transporting and consuming food is responsible for nearly a third of our impact on climate change, so choices about packed lunches, tuck shops and the canteen can help the environment.

  • suggest stocking fresh, locally in season or Fairtrade produce in the tuck shop or canteen
  • suggest, or offer, to set up a fruit and vegetable garden in the school grounds - this could also provide many learning opportunities and links to the curriculum

Reducing waste

There are many opportunities to reduce waste at school, for example you could encourage the school to:

  • set up recycling bins in the classroom and encourage pupils to recycle
  • use both sides of paper to reduce waste
  • encourage pupils to pass on or sell old text books to other pupils once they have been finished with - could the school set up a scheme?
  • consider setting up a compost bin at the school to reduce food waste
  • arrange a visit to a local land fill or recycling site to engage pupils with what happens to their waste

Saving energy

Suggestions for saving energy in a school could include:

  • encourage pupils to turn off lights and electronic equipment when they have finished using them
  • switch off computer monitors and printers properly instead of leaving them on standby
  • consider using energy saving light bulbs at the school, or perhaps even alternative energy sources for heating, like wind or solar power - for tips and fun activities on how to reduce energy further see the Think Energy website

Greener school schemes and plans

There are many schemes that offer help to make schools greener, for example:

School-wide schemes:

  • the Sustainable Schools Strategy framework helps schools think about how to green the whole school
  • schools can register for the Eco-Schools programme free on the Eco-Schools website - various grants are available to registered schools for making adjustments to improve the environment

Travel:

  • find out about the walk to school campaign – schools can register as a WoW school, which promotes walking to school once a week with rewards for children who take part
  • if the school develops a School Travel Plan it could then be able to apply for a grant to encourage students to use environmentally friendly forms of transport

Energy:

  • the Energy Certification for Schools scheme provides help for schools to save money on energy, reduce carbon emissions, and improve the environment

Environmental education:

  • the Globe programme supports education on the environment - children measure aspects of their school’s environment, record results online and can then compare their findings with other schools from across the world

More useful links

Additional links

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