ECO

Welcome to Bronte Primary School Eco-Schools.

' The Eco-Schools programme provides an ideal way for fostering environmental awareness in the entire school in a way that links to many curriculum subjects. ' Eco-Schools NI Handbook.

2019-21

Although we have had two extraordinary years because of the Covid pandemic, our commitment to being an Eco school has remained. Obviously there has had to be many adjustments but we have worked within the restrictions and limitations imposed to the best of our ability. 

One of the changes has been to the 'Steps for Green Flag success' process. It has changed from 7 to 6 steps. 

Step 1. Eco-Schools Committee

Two children were selected from each class. We started off meeting together but then as we needed to stay in our 'bubbles' a list of activities and tasks was created for Eco members to do in and for their own class.

Step 2. Choosing our topics

The Eco-Committee completed an Environmental review in the Autumn term of 2019. We also considered the topics covered before.

We decided to choose Outdoor Learning as our major topic to continue and widen the use of our outdoor area, particularly 'The Wilds', that we had worked so hard to develop the previous two years.

We also choose Litter and Waste as our minor topics. We had been advised by our Green Flag assessor that our next step was to monitor our Waste and Litter, so that is what we have ben implementing.

3. Action Plan

Bronte Primary School's Action Plan for our Major and Minor topics.

Step 4. The Eco Code

As we have been in our class bubbles for the last year, each of the seven classes were invited to contribute to our Eco acrostic poem to create our Eco Code for 2020-2021.

Step 5. Informing and Involving

Ways of informing and involving include our Eco board, newsletters, articles/photos in the local newspaper and also our website! This year, all classes have also used Google Classroom to communicate with and involve parents.

Step 6. Monitoring and evaluating

As mentioned previously, our main focus for monitoring is our waste bins. We are aiming to reduce the number of waste bins we use and have them located in our shared area, when we are allowed out of our 'bubbles'. 

We have also continued our daily checklist which, this year, is class based. The Eco members in each class monitor and complete a page each day.

2017-19

The seven Steps of the Eco-Schools Programme.

Step 1. Eco-Schools Committee.

 Pupils of Bronte Primary School selected by their peers to be part of the Eco Committee.

 Fourteen members joined our Eco-Committee and three casual volunteers.

Step 2. Environmental Review.

The Eco-Committee assess the School's current performance in the topic areas. 

3. Action Plan

Bronte Primary School's Action Plan. Our Major Topic is Biodiversity and our Minor Topics are Litter and Healthy Living. 

4. Monitoring and Evaluation.

5. Curriculum

6. Informing and Involving

7. Eco-Code