A Hitchin school is celebrating after being awarded prestigious international recognition for their environmental efforts

Pupils at Whitehill Junior School have earned an international accreditation, recognising their amazing work in making their school more environmentally friendly and raising eco-awareness in fellow pupils. 

Eco-Schools is an international education programme that prompts young people to explore sustainability and climate change and take action. 

Tim Lord, teacher and project lead said: "I have really enjoyed seeing this project through from the initial conversations after the Junior Leadership Team pledged the idea to its conclusion when we received the actual flag.

"I just need to convince our headteacher, Steve Mills to get us a flag pole now."

Pupils at Whitehill Junior School have earned an international accreditation. CREDIT: Whitehill Junior School

Having been pledged by last year's Junior Leadership Team, an elected group of Year 6 pupils, they and other pupils at Whitehill collaborated with the School's Senior Leadership Team as well as teacher, Mr Lord, to conduct an environmental review, assessing how eco-friendly their school is.

They reviewed everything from the school's recycling practices, to energy usage, to how environmental themes are covered in classrooms. Building on their findings, the pupils and Mr Lord planned a year of activities that would up their green-credentials. 

Although the Year 6 pupils who started the project last year have moved on to their respective secondary schools now, the school has been in touch to share the wonderful news with them. 

Anya, one of the eco-committee members said: "The teachers get scared when I turn up at their classroom door and rush to turn the lights off, if they are on unnecessarily."

The group connected their work to 3 Eco-Schools topics: energy, citizenship and litter.

Activities included reaching out to the council; setting up a project with the local gurdwara; supporting Ukrainian refugees; thinking very carefully about energy usage in school and raising money for two very worthy charities – East of England Air Ambulance and Parkinson's UK. 

Eco-Schools England Manager, Adam Flint, said: "Earning an Eco-Schools Green Flag Award takes passion, commitment and a desire to make a difference. Pupils should be proud of their great work.

"They're an inspiration and it makes us feel heartened and positive about the future of our planet."

To learn more about Eco-Schools head to www.eco-schools.org.uk  

Pupils at Whitehill Junior School have earned an international accreditation. CREDIT: Whitehill Junior School