Eco Schools Status
A group of students, working with a consultant, are leading the school's efforts to achieve Eco-Schools status. They are currently working towards the Bronze Award.
You can read about the scheme here.
Latest report (26 April) from Kessia Hammett is:
"CSfG has been working towards Eco Schools status. Already, a committed team of staff, 6th formers and main school pupils has made some visible school improvements. Bruno Reddy, a sustainable schools consultant from Mr Greeny, has made a significant contribution by coordinating the process.
Staff – Ann Blassberg, Stephanie Bayliss and Joe O'Kane – have been focusing on the school grounds. We now have 3 bird baths and 2 insect boxes and digging has started on the vegetable patch. The compost heap is being used more regularly with up to 50 tea bags and half a kilo of fruit peel thrown on per day.
Meanwhile, 6th formers – Anna Babic, Kessia Hammett, Rebecca Seglow-Hudson, Dolly Theis and Grace Quinn – have concentrated on reducing the daily waste generated by the common room. As well as a new compost container, paper recycling has been introduced. There are student-designed posters in the common room to encourage participation.
Similarly, main school students – Kitty Drake and Frankie Boon – have extended the existing recycling schemes.
Elsewhere, Joe O'Kane has identified ways to reduce energy consumption. It was identified that the heating system was on unnecessarily during unoccupied hours. Thanks to better timing controls, the heating is turned off for an extra 80 hours per week on average, thereby saving money and lowering carbon emissions.
Other activities in the school, which haven't been led by the eco-team but contribute nevertheless to the award, include cycle training, and global awareness projects through Amnesty International.
Clare Duggan, a school parent and governor, is seeking external funding for further projects to improve CSfG's green credentials.
In short, we're on the verge of getting the Bronze award and have high aspirations to achieve Silver in the near future."