Eco-Schools
Eco-Schools is an international award programme that guides schools on their sustainable journey. It provides a framework to help embed environmental principles into the heart of school life. Eco-Schools is run internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and is administered in England by Keep Britain Tidy. 46 countries around the world run the Eco-Schools Programme, linking more than 40,000 schools.
Joining the Eco-Schools Programme is free and makes tackling sustainable issues manageable. Once registered, schools follow a simple seven-step process which helps them to address a variety of environmental topics. The 9 Eco-Schools topics are:
- Biodiversity
- Energy
- Global perspectives
- Healthy living
- Litter
- School grounds
- Transport
- Waste
- Water
For more information about Eco-Schools please click the link.
Eco-Schools (External link)
Support available
The Environmental Education Team help schools to work towards achieving their bronze, silver or prestigious green flag award. Bronze and silver are self accredited through the Eco-Schools website and the green flag is externally assessed by Keep Britain Tidy.
The council's Eco-Schools Officer monitors progress of schools in Wigan on the Eco-Schools Programme and can offer support to all schools throughout their Eco-Schools journey. Advice can be given on how to register, what schools need to do to apply for their bronze, silver or green flag award or ideas on how to carry out environmental improvements within the school.
The team has developed a series of lessons which will support the 9 Eco-Schools topics and are available to deliver to pupils. These are in the format of PowerPoint lessons and activities which teachers can use to assist them in delivering lessons around these environmental topics.
If you have any environmental projects that you need help with then our team will be more than happy to support.
Current situation of schools in Wigan Borough
There are 104 primary schools, 20 secondary schools, 6 special schools and 3 colleges in the borough.
91% (121) schools are now registered on the Eco-Schools Programme which puts Wigan Council 5th out of 159 local authorities in England.
Many schools have achieved their bronze or silver award but 23% (30) schools have now achieved their green flag which puts Wigan Council 1st out of 159 local authorities.
Online resource
The Environmental Education Team has recently put an Eco-Schools page on the Virtual Learning Network to help schools with their environmental work.
This includes:
- Information on the 9 Eco-Schools topics
- Lesson plans
- Activities
To log in to the Virtual Learning Network please click the link. This is only available for schools in Wigan Borough and you will need to have a user name and password which your school should have provided you with.
Virtual Learning Network (External link)
Funding
Awards for All (External link)
Access to Nature (External link)
Low Carbon Buildings Programme (External link)
The Royal Society (External link)
Free resources
The Big Tidy Up (External link)
The Pod (External link)
Ashden Awards (External link)
Litter Education Pack (External link)
Grow Your Own Potatoes (External link)
Generation Green (External link)
Nature Detectives (External link)
Garden Organic (External link)
Tree for All (External link)
Carbon Trust (External link)
Footprint Friends (External link)
