KING Edward VI School in Morpeth has made green history during the last year.
Students have led the way as the environment has been at the forefront of learning and after-school activities under the banner ‘the KEVI Sustainability for the Future Programme’.
It was the first high school in Northumberland to achieve lead climate change school status.
In an action-packed year, the school introduced recycling bins in every office and classroom to boost recycling rates.
Students wrote their own transport plan and worked hard to attract different species to the site.
Year nine students raised £80 by selling environment calendars for the Northumberland Wildlife Trust and adopted a red squirrel. During National Science and Engineering Week students looked at climate change in lots of subjects.
Even foreign language lessons had a green focus as French and Spanish sessions focused on climate change vocabulary.
Sixth form student Eleanor Brunt won a national engineering competition for her invention of a solar-powered propagator.
Student Jack Gebhard was one of the first young people to speak in the House of Lords as a UK Youth Parliament Member when he launched his environment policy. Bridget Donaldson of year 10 and sixth-former Thomas Brookes followed in his footsteps.
Victoria Najafi, Student Voice leadership and enrichment co-ordinator, and Student Voice assistants Kate Charlton and Rachel Johnson collected the Climate Change Award from Chronicle editor Paul Robertson.
Victoria said: “We were absolutely delighted to win the award. Our school is unique in that the environment work we do is all led through our students.
“The students are coming up with their own ideas. It’s taken off big time. It’s great to come here and showcase the good work we are doing.”
KIER NORTH TYNESIDE
CONSTRUCTION company Kier takes its green responsibilities seriously.
A vehicle tracker system has reduced fuel usage by nearly 10% from the start of Kier’s contract with North Tyneside Council. It has also worked hard to reduce the amount of waste it removed from construction sites in skips.
EDMONDSLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL
CHILDREN at Edmondsley Primary School in Durham are taught that everyone can make a useful contribution to caring for the world.
The school encourages children not to be wasteful, to have empathy for others and a sense of responsibility for their surroundings.