Southwark top of country’s Eco-Schools table
Published 25 May 2010
More schools in Southwark have registered as Eco-Schools than anywhere else in England, according to latest figures.
More schools in Southwark have registered as Eco-Schools than anywhere else in England, according to latest figures.
Almost every school in Southwark has signed up to the scheme, and two have received the schemes highest honour. Once registered, schools follow a simple seven-step process to help them address a variety of environmental themes, ranging from litter and waste to healthy living and biodiversity.
Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling at Southwark Council, said:
"The fact that nearly every school in the borough is signed up to the Eco-Schools scheme is something that we should be really proud of. It's vital that the next generation learn the importance of looking after the environment that surrounds them early, particularly in an area like Southwark where green space is so valuable."
Further information
Eco-Schools are administered in England by ENCAMS. For more information on the programme please visit Eco-Schools website
For more information on Southwark Council's work with schools please visit the environmental education pages
110 schools in the borough have signed up to the scheme, which represents 97 percent of all schools in Southwark
Of the registered schools, 72 have bronze certificates, 21 have silver certificates and 2 have a green flag (Charles Dickens Primary, Borough and St Johns Catholic Primary, Rotherhithe).
The two schools achieved their green flags, the highest achievement possible in the Eco Schools scheme, as a result of a consistently high level of environmentally friendly performance.
At St John's Catholic Primary, the school's commitment to recycling, growing their own food and encouraging walking to school, was recognised by the Eco Schools judges.
Charles Dickens Primary has achieved a green flag for two years in a row. Key to their success is their new outdoor teaching canopy made from sustainable materials and other initiatives such as growing their own vegetables and educational 'environment weeks'.
There are 46 countries around the world that run the Eco-Schools programme, linking more than 40,000 schools - from the UK to France, from Morocco to South Africa.
