Southwark Council hosts successful schools Eco Oscars

Published 17 March 2011

Over 200 primary school students and teachers attended an awards ceremony at City Hall to celebrate Southwark's schools Eco Oscars.

Held at City Hall on Thursday 10 March and chaired by Southwark's Mayor, Cllr Tayo Situ, the 2011 Southwark schools environmental Oscars award ceremony celebrated Southwark school's achievements in environmental and sustainability projects.

The event was organised by Southwark Council, as part of its work to support households, businesses and the public sector reduce their carbon emissions and energy costs to help meet stretching national climate change targets for the whole of the UK.

Some of the winners included Spa School for their work on sustainable food and drink. Hanako Harvey from Charles Dickens Primary School was awarded the Pupil Contribution Award. See full list of winners below.

Southwark Council's cabinet member transport, environment and recycling, Cllr Barrie Hargrove, said:

"It's fantastic to be part of such a great event and see how the younger generation is aware of important environmental issues and already leading by example.

We take environmental issues very seriously and events like these are a great way of setting a good example, it is really important to get the next generation of kids thinking about sustainable behaviour both at school and at home."

Categories and winners

Schools and individual

Food and Drink Award 2011: Spa School. Christine McInnes, an Assistant Director of Southwark Council Children's Services helped to present the award.
Energy Award 2011: Peckham Park Primary Gill Davies, Director of Environment, Southwark Council helped to present the award.
Water Award 2011: St Anthony's Catholic Primary Award co-presented David Grantham from Thames Water helped to present the award. Thames Water have supported several Southwark schools this year to save water and money with their Water Makeover project with Global Action Plan.
Travel Award 2011: Nell Gwynn Nursery
Waste Reduction Award 2011: St James the Great Catholic Primary. Ian McGeough, Outreach Officer from Veolia Environmental Services helped to present the award. Veolia are the waste contractor working in partnership with Southwark Council to provide free recycling and recycling support to Southwark schools.
Celia Hammond and Ashley White from the London Wildlife Trust helped to present the award. The London Wildlife Trust provide education sessions and events, training, gardening and conservation advice. Experts from the Trust can also advise schools on how to improve their grounds.
Background information

Current Environmental Education Support for Schools from Southwark Council

The climate change and sustainability team at Southwark Council

We are currently working with 20 Southwark schools on a carbon reduction and energy saving service. This involves a professional energy survey of the school and support for the school to implement the carbon reduction measures including match funding from the council. The service also involves encouraging school staff and pupils to be more aware of the energy they are using and ensure appliances are switched off when not in use.

Events such as the environmental Oscars help to engage staff and pupils with energy saving and caring for the environment generally.
provide information, resources and support to help Southwark schools provide the best possible environmental education and achieve environmental awards such as Eco-Schools.
What are Eco Schools?

Eco Schools is an international award programme that guides schools on their sustainable journey, providing a framework to help embed these principles into the heart of school life.

How many Eco Schools are there in Southwark?

Southwark has more Eco-Schools than any other London Borough with 112 Eco-Schools. There also are five Green Flag Eco-Schools in Southwark - the highest Eco-Schools award.

What is the role of students in Eco Schools?

A group of volunteer pupils form an eco committee lead the school through the simple process. They involve the whole school in measuring, monitoring and deciding how to make their school more eco friendly.
School Grounds Award 2011: Goodrich Primary
Local Wellbeing Award 2011: St John's Catholic Primary. Jill Partington from Keep Britain Tidy who run the Eco-Schools programme in the UK helped to present the award.