Becoming an Eco-School
The Shires as an Eco-School - Progress report
The Shires is making good progress in implementing our new Eco-policies suggested by the Eco-Schools Action Team:
ENERGY - We are aiming to reduce our overall use of LPG in the Main Building by 50%. A "Switch it off" campaign has been launched involving both staff and students to reduce our use of electricity. Further insulation of loft spaces in our Main Building is planned. To reduce our reliability on heating oil we are monitoring thermostatic settings.
WATER - As well as encouraging our staff and students to use less water we also collecting rain water in butts so that all plants and flowers can be watered without using the main water supply.
RECYCLING / WASTE REDUCTION - Our staff and students are encouraged to print documents on both sides of the paper to use less paper. We are also recycling old mobile phones and printer cartridges.
GROUNDS AND BIODIVERSITY - In the school grounds we have been planting new and different types of plants and flowers, these have been specifically chosen to increase the number of small animals, birds and insects which can thrive there. This summer our students have made bird boxes, bird feeders and bat boxes which have been installed to encourage a wider variety of species, also our Sensory Garden has been completed which has added to the variety of grasses, shrubs and trees. In the future we are planning to build a wild life pond to add fish and amphibious animals as well as water based plants.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES - In the classroom our students are learning about the effects of waste on local and global environments, the difficulties caused by water shortages in many countries and the effects of using fossil fuels. They are also learning about biodiversity and healthy living. Our students are helping to keep the "village" green by helping with litter picking.
Click here to see The Shires Eco-Code
The Eco-School Action Team
The Shires is working towards becoming a Green Flag Eco-School whereby it becomes self-sustaining. A self-sustaining school is one where its use of resources today does not have a negative effect on the people or local environment in the future.
An Eco-Schools Action Team drawn from students, parents, teachers, care staff, support staff, managers and representatives of the local and wider community are looking at the 9 areas of potential sustainability: water, waste recycling, energy, biodiversity, school grounds, transport, litter, healthy living and global perspectives to see how well The Shires is doing now and to plan to improve our position in the coming months and years.
The Shires Eco-Code
Please see the centre section to access a copy of The Shires Eco-Code