Eco-School Award at Acre View

Lead Mrs Prince and Mr Zaim 

Our school is excited to be currently working towards the Eco-Schools Award, an internationally recognised programme that supports schools in embedding environmental awareness and sustainable practices across all areas of school life. The Eco-Schools framework is designed to empower children to take an active role in caring for their environment, both within the school grounds and in the wider community. It encourages pupils to think critically about the world around them and to understand how their choices can impact the planet

What Is the Eco-Schools Award?

Eco-Schools is a global environmental award scheme that places sustainability at the heart of school culture. It provides a structured, accessible framework to help schools work towards three progressive levels of accreditation: Bronze, Silver, and the internationally respected Green Flag.

The programme follows a simple Seven-Step Framework, involving pupils in forming an Eco-Committee, conducting environmental reviews, planning actions, monitoring progress, and sharing their achievements. These steps empower children to lead genuine change, making the programme highly inclusive for pupils with a wide range of abilities and learning needs. The hands-on, participatory nature of Eco-Schools ensures that every child can contribute meaningfully.

At its core, Eco-Schools encourages pupils to explore themes such as energy, waste, biodiversity, water, healthy living, transport, and global citizenship. Through these themes, children deepen their understanding of environmental issues and the role they can play in addressing them.

Why We Are Working Towards the Eco-Schools Award

Applying for the Eco-Schools Award reflects our commitment to nurturing responsible, confident, environmentally aware young people. For a SEND setting, the programme is especially powerful because it offers numerous routes for children to take leadership, express their ideas, and work together towards shared goals.

Research from Eco-Schools shows significant educational and developmental benefits:

• Pupils develop teamwork, leadership, and communication skills, which are consistently strengthened through Eco-Committee involvement.
• Participation helps build self-esteem and confidence, with teachers reporting that 96.9% of young people showed increased confidence after engaging in Eco-Schools activities.
• Children gain valuable “green skills”, such as problem solving, environmental awareness, and project planning—skills that support future learning and independence.

The award also helps us embed sustainability into our school practices. Eco-Schools has been shown to reduce waste, energy use, and carbon footprint while improving the school environment. Many participating schools have created or maintained significant green spaces, increased biodiversity, and taken part in community action such as litter picks and tree planting.

How the Eco-Schools Award Will Benefit Our Pupils

For our pupils, the Eco-Schools journey provides:

• Real-life learning opportunities, helping children see the impact of their actions—such as recycling, planting, or energy-saving.
• Inclusive, hands-on activities suited to different learning styles and needs, making it ideal for a SEND environment.
• Opportunities to develop practical life skills, including taking responsibility, working collaboratively, and making decisions.
• A sense of achievement and pride, knowing they are helping protect their world.

By involving the whole school community—including staff, pupils, families, and local partners—the Eco-Schools programme fosters a positive, environmentally responsible culture that extends beyond the classroom. It encourages lifelong eco-friendly habits, stronger community engagement, and a deeper understanding of how individual actions make a difference.