At Kemball, we are committed to integrating environmental education into our curriculum, fostering a culture of sustainability among our young people. We take part in the eco schools programme which provides a simple seven-step framework covering the following topics:
Biodiversity: maintaining a high level of plant, insect and animal life locally and globally
Healthy Living: addressing one’s own and our planet’s health
Marine: protecting and conserving water-based ecosystems
School grounds: improving school grounds for young people, staff, plants, insects and animals
Transport: promoting and encouraging sustainable travel
Energy: reducing energy use and investigating greener energy sources
Global citizenship: taking an active role in your community and making our planet more peaceful, sustainable and fair
Litter: reducing litter, which harms wildlife and costs millions to clear every year
Waste: reducing, reusing, repairing, recycling
Water: valuing and preserving our most important natural resource
We are proud to be Green Flag accredited for many years and in more recent years with distinction.
Intent
Our primary goal as an Eco School is to educate our young people about the importance of environmental responsibility and sustainability and empower them to take action to make positive impact on our planet. by doing so, we hope to cultivate environmentally conscious individuals who can think critically about ecological challenges and contribute meaningfully to solving them. Our approach is inclusive, ensuring that every young person, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to participate and make a difference.
Implementation
The implementation of our Eco School program is driven by our dedicated Eco Committee, which includes one representative from each class. This committee is central to our approach, ensuring that the voices and ideas of our young people are at the forefront of our initiatives. Each year, the Eco Committee collaborates to decide on three key topics to focus on. These topics are chosen based on the results of our environmental review, conducted collaboratively across the school, as well as the interests and suggestions of the young people, ensuring that our action plan is both relevant and engaging.
Once our topics are selected, we develop a detailed action plan. This plan outlines specific activities and projects aimed at addressing our chosen topics. These activities are designed to be hands-on and experiential, providing young people with practical opportunities to learn and make a tangible impact. Throughout the year, we monitor our progress, evaluate the effectiveness of our actions, and inform the wider school community about our achievements. At the end of the year we create a new eco code to reflect our actions and share this with our school community
Impact
The impact of being an Eco School and achieving Green Flag accreditation is multifaceted. Firstly, it enhances the educational experience of our young people by building critical thinking and problem-solving skills and giving our young people a sense of accomplishment from seeing the results of their efforts, which boosts their confidence and motivation.
Secondly, our Eco School initiatives lead to tangible environmental benefits. Through activities such as recycling programs, energy conservation measures, and gardening projects, we reduce our ecological footprint and promote sustainable practices within the school. These efforts not only improve our immediate environment but also instil lifelong habits in our young people that they carry into their communities.
Moreover, the inclusive nature of our program fosters a sense of community and belonging, as young people work together towards common goals. The collaborative nature of our projects also helps to develop social skills and teamwork.
Finally, achieving Green Flag accreditation demonstrates our commitment to environmental sustainability .
