NEWS

News from schools, educational groups and other local action

last updated: July, 2010

3 more Bolton schools achieve Fairtrade Schools status

the photo shows pupils from Mount St Joseph's High, Horwich Parish and Moorgate Primary celebrating their awards

At Bolton's 2nd Fairtrade Schools conference, 80+ pupils and staff from 13 schools attended. They came together to learn, share and celebrate the progress schools have made in promoting Fairtrade.

The conference was hosted by Thornleigh - Bolton's first Fairtrade School and their Head Teacher, Alison Burrowes, handed the 3 successful schools their certificates.

The conference was organised by Thornleigh, Fairtrade in Bolton and Bolton Council with financial support from Bolton Healthy Schools and The co-operative.

The staff and pupils enjoyed a day of learning, sharing Fairtrade tips with fellow schools and creating marketing strategies for Fairtrade products in a Dragon's Den style competition.

Steve Harrold (Bolton Council's Development Officer with responsibility for sustainability education) said: "this was a very successful day. The children generated great ideas, and increased their understanding of global Fairtrade. They worked to advise each other about promoting Fairtrade in schools and I'm sure all of the schools attending are closer to embedding Fairtrade in their schools."

STOP PRESS: 2 FURTHER SCHOOLS ACHIEVE FAIRTRADE STATUS
St Joseph's Horwich and Canon Slade recently received confirmation that their applications for Fairtrade Schools status have been successful....

Lever Edge Primary - where everyone grows!

Lever Edge's Business Manager, Carole Concannon has been involved in their work towards environmental sustainability. She writes about their allotment projects:
"The allotment project started at Lever Edge Primary in May 2010 and is proving very popular with the children and staff. Children from a different class every day work on the allotments with a Teaching Assistant.

The children have planted various vegetables, including cucumbers, lettuce, sweetcorn and carrots. They have also planted a variety of herbs and soft fruits such as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and grapes. The fruit and vegetables harvested will be incorporated into the lunchtime menu, so the children can see and taste the produce they have grown.

The focus of the project is around healthy eating, recycling, composting and water conservation."

You can read more on their website: http://www.leveredge.org.uk/

Windy Westhoughton to get first school wind turbines?

Teacher Hayley Sutton and The Gates' Eco Warriors survey the site for their wind turbine

The Gates Primary School, Westhoughton look set to win the race to be the first Bolton school to install a wind turbine!

Kathryn Coiffait (Head) described the potential benefits of having the 2 x 15 metre turbines:
"We should see lots of opportunities to work within the curriculum and monitor our reduced need from the national grid.
"We are very excited about the prospect of having wind turbines at The Gates. We want to demonstrate that it's practically possible to use renewable low-carbon ways to heat and light our school.
"Not only will we be sending a clear message about the school's commitment to sustainability and helping to protect our future world, but we will be able to save money on our energy bills and we can redirect this to enrich children's learning experiences at the school.
"We also want to integrate this project into our curriculum. Children will be able to measure reductions in energy use and learn about wind turbines and climate change as part of a real experience."
The school has worked closely with the council to ensure the turbines will not cause a nuisance to neighbours.
If you want to know more about The Gates progress, contact Kathryn: coiffk@thegates.bolton.sch.uk
Here's a link to how the Bolton News covered the story: http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/8110551.Wind_turbines_plan_for_school/

Bolton Council is supporting The Gates with this groundbreaking project. If you think your school is windy enough and has enough enthusiasm to follow this through, contact Anne Mason (at Corporate Porperty Services) - see the Energy & Water section of the Directory click here

Sustainable Schools - news of 2 successful days

some of the 250 participants at the primary Sustainable Schools event at Victoria Hall
photo by Naomi Kane

250 staff and pupils from 22 Bolton primary schools attended the primary Sustainable Schools day. Participants heard an opening speech from Margaret Asquith (Director, Children's Services), took part in workshops and held a video conference with a school in Kumasi, Ghana. The children (and adults) learned about many aspects of making their schools more sustainable, including outdoor education, reducing and reusing waste and Fairtrade.
Rhiannon Chambers (11) from The Gates Primary School attended a money seminar and said, "it made me think about what life is going to be like as an adult!" Georgina Bradshaw (8) from Eagley Juniors said, "I wasn't aware of how much went into the environment - both good and bad things." The team from Clarendon Primary left with plans for making a difference to their school saying, "it was a great day!"
Schools had made special efforts to travel to the event by sustainable means, and most arrived by foot, bus or train. There were prizes for the schools that brought reusable packaging for sandwiches and drinks and the event did a carbon footprinting exercise. The 100Kg of CO2 that the event generated was less than last year's event. Where CO2 couldn't be reduced, the event organisers allocated funds to 2 carbon positive projects in the UK and Africa.
Steve Harrold (Bolton Council's ESD Officer) commented: "this was the second annual Sustainable Schools day the ESD Network has run. We're grateful to our sponsors - Bolton Council, Viridor and Lancashire Wildlife Trust. And we're really grateful to the schools who inspire us with their great ideas, their practical work and their creative thinking about being globally sustainable."

(if you attended either of the days and haven't sent your "next steps" to Steve, please email him now! click here to send an email)

These photos show some of what went on at the primary day. Schools enjoyed workshops, the video conference with a school in Ghana and a question and answer panel.

The result of the day were the actions that school teams did when they returned to school. Here's a sample of the practical steps schools resolved to take. Perhaps there are some good ideas you could replicate...?
* replace litter bins on playground
* develop more wildlife habitats
* reduce energy consumption (especially by teachers!)
* an Earth Day event in April
* encourage people to use less packaging in lunch boxes
* ask school cook to buy local produce to cut food miles
* food audit/questionnaire
* stop using drinks cartons
* Fairtrade awareness days
* link schools
* go on the Love Food - Hate Waste website for ideas to save food
* turn down heating thermostat.....

* revamping recycling facilities in our school

At least 1 school hosted a follow-up "cluster" meeting with other neighbouring schools that attended the day.

here are some hopes, observations and comments that schools made over the 2 days:
School dinners could be made from Fair Trade products.

That most people in my class use cars.

Recycle and save the planet.

Make a brain controlled car so we dont use as much petrol.

Why the owners of football clubs pay some debts for different polutions.

We could try to persuade people to stop littering by putting up signs and tell them how much its costing us.

Eat more fruit and walk instead of travelling by car.

Does a recycling rubbish waggon come to school or is it just a normal bin waggon. Does school have 4 types of rubbish bin not just for kitchen waste.

Beaumont Primary Eco Team - part of a growing movement...

The photo shows Beaumont Primary school's Eco Team - one of a growing number of eco teams that have started or been reinvigorated recently. Steve has visited an increasing number of schools that want to review their progress, plan for the future and get things done!

Beaumont's team described their feelings about being a successful eco team in this sentence - 'We feel proud and happy and a good team'.

Julie Seeds is the Eco Team's link teacher. She said, "They are fired up to save the planet and full of excellent ideas! The children decided to share the news with the rest of the school in a whole-school assembly, telling everyone all the things they had to do to gain silver award."

Tree O' Clock - Gilnow plant fruit trees to create a mini orchard

Gilnow Primary School was one of a number of schools taking part in the national Tree O Clock event.
The photo shows Year 4 children planting fruit trees with the Sustainable Development Team who donated the trees. The photo also shows Marian Moulton (Year 4 teacher), Councillor John Byrne and Stuart Cairns (Trees & Woodlands Officer).
Gilnow has made lots of improvements to their grounds in recent years and many children have been involved. They are also keen to improve the surrounding area and have successfully pressured the Council to improve the environment of the areas approaching the school.
The Bolton News also covered this story. See: http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/4782238.Youngsters_dig_deep_for_tree_week/

other news from schools....

schools and groups from all round Bolton continue to demonstrate the educational benefits of doing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). They also show the creativeness of just where ESD might lead you..!

The Forwards Centre, Westhoughton recently held its annual garden sale - the result of its 3rd successful year of organic food growing.
The children have developed many new skills - in growing, entrepreneurship, self-confidence and path-laying! The school points to improvements in behaviour and motivation and many children have independently transferred their skills to their home gardens, so their families benefit too...

Clarendon Primary School's Eco Warriors have worked hard to improve the Sustainability of their school
They recently spent £200 prize money from the ESD Network on useful resources made from reused materials - including can-crushers, recycling bins and stationery made from old car tyres and vending cups....

Castle Hill Primary School has received some excellent publicity for their successful growing and outdoor art projects which have involved large numbers of children and their parents & carers.
They've discovered a way of involving adults at a school that's previously struggled to get parents involved. They put the success down to attracting adults to do something that's initially unthreatening, that originates from the children and where the adults are given appreciation for their efforts. You can see coverage from the Bolton News at: http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/search/4169566.It_s_gardeners__world_as_Bolton_pupils_dig_in/

Forest School taster day - getting creative in the woods

Another popular taster day was held at Johnson Fold. Teachers, staff and volunteers learned about the basics of Forest School through replicating the activities that children do. The photos show some of their creative results. One result of the day (and the continuing growing interest in Bolton) is a local Bolton FEI Forest School cluster group. If you want to join or attend this group, contact Steve: click here

some images of Sustainable action and activities that the ESD Network has been involved with....

sustainable transport - a walking bus	Dreams of an African Child - production for secondary schools at The Octgaon Theatre	sustainable school construction - a Network visit to Kingsmead primary school in Northwich
greenhouse growing at school - sustainable food production	a training day on health and sustainability for school councils	Fairtrade schools - Bolton's first Fairtrade Schools conference
pupils considering Sustainability planning within school	solar panels - providing sustainable energy and reducing CO2 emissions for schools	global links: secondary students being interviewed about their visit to Tanzania
Pupils from Key Stage 1 at Beaumont Primary School worked with Groundwork Trust to plant raised beds.	the world in our hands..?	examples of using natural sustainable materials in school grounds