Sustainability awards for Shropshire schools

Schools from across Shropshire recently attended an awards event at Shirehall in Shrewsbury to celebrate the achievements they have made this year in improving sustainability in their schools. 

The annual Shropshire Schools Sustainability Award celebrates the efforts of schools across Shropshire to improve their school environment and engage pupils with the environment. 

Much Wenlock Primary School were awarded the winners shield by Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for energy and carbon reduction, and they have won £1,000 to spend on sustainability projects within their school.  On receiving the award the school commented:

“We will be spending the money on developing our school grounds and forest schools area, and are hoping to buy a chicken house!”

Second place was awarded to Newtown Primary School in Wem, who received £500 – they are hoping to improve the recycling bins in school and the grounds and to buy a nesting box with camera; and third place to The Community College in Bishop’s Castle, who received £250, who are also looking at new recycling facilities. 

Seven highly-commended schools received certificates and a small financial prize to spend on sustainability projects within their school.  These are: 

Primary schools

• St George’s Clun – has a well developed whole school and community approach and an interesting farmers market project with the community has been very successful.
• St John’s Baptist Primary, Ruyton XI Towns –is involved with a EU Connect Project – looking at carbon foot printing, local weather and climate change.
• St John’s (Bridgnorth) –has developed its school grounds to make better use of them as a teaching resource.
• Wilfred Owen – has taken a very innovative and fun approach and created a greenhouse made out of plastic bottles!
• Sundorne – are working well with neighbouring schools and the local community having created growing areas and allotments in both their school and on the neighbouring land.

Secondary schools 

• The Marches School and Technology College – work on sustainability is lead by the pupils with awareness campaigns including waste and recycling and Fairtrade.
• The Priory School – the eco committee have organised an exciting Green Day, encouraging sustainable travel.

Throughout the year schools across Shropshire are encouraged to assess their position against the Sustainable Schools Framework and are then invited to apply for the award.

Awarding the prizes, Cecilia Motley said:

“I would like to congratulate the pupils, teachers and staff at the winning schools, which is deserved recognition for their continued efforts to protect and enhance the environment at the school, and I look forward to seeing new projects from schools across Shropshire in the new academic year.” 

Ruth Hudson, Shropshire Council’s sustainability officer, said:

“It is fantastic to see so many schools actively involved with sustainability projects in their schools.  It just goes to show the enthusiasm our younger generation have for making a difference in their communities.  The staff and pupils in these schools are models for the future who are aware of the need to act and live sustainably, and through their actions are making positive changes to their school and local communities.”

The Shropshire Sustainable Schools Award was launched in 2010, replacing the Mike Sprackling Award, but remaining in memory of him. 

It is to celebrate performance by schools in becoming sustainable schools and aims to recognise innovative work and activity in school and linking with the wider community.