The Eco Council at Wheatfield Primary School plays a crucial role in promoting sustainability and environmental awareness throughout the school community. This dedicated group of students engages in various initiatives aimed at reducing waste, conserving energy, and protecting our local environment. Through activities such as bird feeding, recycling campaigns, educational workshops and the Blue Heart Trail, members of the Eco Council inspire their peers to take actionable steps towards a greener future.
Students involved not only learn valuable skills related to teamwork and leadership but also become advocates for ecological responsibility. The Eco Council embodies the school’s commitment to nurturing responsible citizens who understand the importance of caring for our planet. Together, they work towards making Wheatfield Primary a more environmentally friendly place for everyone.
What is ECO School?
The Eco-Schools programme is an international initiative that encourages pupils to engage with environmental and sustainable development issues. Pupils take key roles in decision making and participation in order to reduce the environmental impact of their school.
Eco-School extends learning beyond the classroom and develops responsible citizenship attitudes both at home and in the wider community.
At Wheatfield we elect a new team of children for Eco Council each year and have one child per class to ensure a representation of different ages. The Eco Committee meet regularly and work together to make a difference!
Children can choose to apply for the Eco Council once per year. They have to complete an application form to explain why they feel they’d be best suited to the role and how they believe they can make a difference.
Eco Committee members have a responsibility to share their topics, projects and learning with their class to influence others to make eco-friendly choices which also embed our school value of taking responsibility. There are always plenty of opportunities for everyone to be involved with the Eco Committee including school grounds days, class topics and events throughout the year
Blue Heart Trail
In 2022, the Eco council set up a trail around the school to highlight some of the ways that we have made our grounds nature and wildlife friendly. We have provided habitats for hedgehogs, birds, bats, pollinating insects and frogs. In summer, our wildflower meadows are an attractive addition to the school as well as being helpful to the creatures that live here.
Eco Schools Green flag award
We are very proud to have earned our Eco Schools green flag award in 2023 by reviewing ten areas of our environment and choosing a top three as our focus going forward. We chose: Biodiversity, Energy and Waste.
RSPB Wild Challenge for Schools
The Eco Council are currently working towards the Bronze level of the RSPB Wild Challenge for Schools. On a recent habitat survey of the grounds, the group found that we scored an amazing 116 out of 173. They are now looking at ways that we can increase that score even more by providing an even greater variety of habitats