St James the Great R.C (V.A) Primary & Nursery School

Environment Award

Following promotion of the benefits of a new set of three R's, namely, Reducing, Reusing and Recycling waste, St James the Great has had its "green credentials" recognised as the first Croydon School to gain a Distinction Award of £2000. This London Schools Environment Award (LSEA) scheme is part of a three-year challenge to London primary schools across the 26 London boroughs, developed to foster children's sense of responsibility for their environment.

Mr Beck, along with two pupil representatives Gregory Campbell (10) and Hannah Smith (8) attended City Hall on 22 April 2004 where the Mayor Ken Livingstone presented the London Schools Environment Awards to winning primary schools from across London's boroughs.

Wildlife presenter Bill Oddie hosted the awards ceremony, and there was entertainment from Eurovision and Fame academy star James Fox. The children also received their own "goodie bags" to take home. The school was very pleased to see its local councilors Gerry Ryan and Louisa Woodley at the presentations.

Mr Beck commented that obtaining the award was great recognition of the dedication of the whole school community to environmental issues and was gained against stiff competition. The school has worked hard across the whole spectrum of environmental issues with pupils frequently taking the lead as young people are much more socially aware and in many respects keep us adults on our toes environmentally. He expressed the view that environmental issues have to be built in to the daily life of the school and its members. At St James the Great this is ongoing and over the year has involved enhancing the awareness of the school and its community by;

• Compiling, circulating and analysing a litter survey, entitled -Are You a Litter Bug?
• This was followed by promoting issues involving litter around the school, which led to each class. producing a litter pledge i.e. a list of 5 promises that the pupils keep to make their school environment litter free.
• A rota of volunteer litter pickers from the older pupils in Key Stage 2, who take it upon themselves to maintain a litter free atmosphere.
• Children are encouraged to take their litter home with them, after lunch and on school trips.
• The installation of Solar panels to the school roof to lessen energy costs whilst providing pupils with opportunity to monitor the use and cost effectiveness of the installation through a range of cross curricula learning.
• The children wrote to large companies about packaging issues and recycled paper and aluminium cans.
• In addition they reused glass to make attractive gifts at Christmas time.
• The staff reduced their paper use by double siding photocopying.
• A waste paper recycling bin is located on the school site and is used by both school members and local residents
• The children are also encouraged to take these messages home with them.

The school hopes to direct the prize money to the establishment of a purpose designed environmental area on the school site. Mr Beck expressed his appreciation of the work undertaken by the lead staff in the environmental project, Mrs Tammy Lawlor and Mrs Mary Berkeley Agyepong in both supporting the pupils projects and in compiling the winning submission. Our success will undoubtedly spur us on in our continuing environmental work.

 

Following our award we were invited to make a presentation to the Geographical Society in London. To see our presentation click the picture to the right.