Young eco warriors at St Margaret’s Preparatory School in Calne are leading the battle against damage to the environment and fighting for healthy living and outdoor learning, having been rewarded with Green Flag status.
The pupils put on an impressive display of knowledge and enthusiasm when an assessor from Eco Schools visited to decide if it should keep its coveted award for a fourth successive time.
After a tense wait of several weeks, the school was told it had kept its top grading. Teacher and Outdoor Learning Co-ordinator, Kim Callaway, said, “We were delighted to keep our Green Flag status. On the day of the visit children from Year 6, who are our eco drivers, took the assessor on a visit around the whole school. They were able to talk about outdoor learning and aspects such as valuing our planet and sustainability, whilst also demonstrating how clubs such as Gardening and a range of lessons also have an ‘eco’ theme.”
The assessor from Eco Schools, which is a global programme engaging millions of children across 64 different countries, wrote a glowing letter of praise to the school. It said, ‘St Margaret’s Preparatory School is an excellent example of whole school commitment to outdoor learning, sustainability and environmental activities. The wealth of activities undertaken across the school reflects the passion and dedication of the staff to outdoor learning and using the environment to stimulate learning.
‘The children showed amazing enthusiasm and an in-depth knowledge for Eco topics and obviously enjoy the challenges of problem solving to achieve their goals. Their Eco work is enriched through close links with local schools and their local community and an Eco focus on school visits and residential weeks.
‘Well done to the whole school; they thoroughly deserve their new Green Flag award.’