How it works

Step 1

Forming an Eco-Committee

Your Eco-Committee will represent the views of the whole school, and act as the focus to push forward actions and discuss progress. The Eco-Committee also work to keep the profile of the Eco-Schools programme high.

Key criteria

The Eco-Committee need to meet regularly
Adults and non-pupils should be involved, either by attending the meetings or helping with specific tasks
A record of meetings must be kept
The Eco-Committee make sure the rest of the school is told what they have been doing/talking about

Useful links and downloadsExamples of Eco-Committee application Eco-Committee manifesto template Eco-Committee meeting minutes Eco-Committee Video Introduction

Step 2

Carrying out an environmental review

The purpose of the review is to help the Eco-Committee come up with ideas as to how the school can reduce its impact on the environment. Conducting a comprehensive review will ensure that no significant areas of impact are overlooked. These ideas then feed into the Action Plan.

Key criteria

All nine topic areas should be reviewed annually
The pupils must be involved in undertaking the review
The results are then discussed

Useful links and downloadsSimple Environmental review Environmental review Environmental Review Video Introduction

Step 3

Developing an action plan

Why have an Action Plan? It’s very important to organise your ideas into an action plan. Through the process of creating the plan you will be able to make sure that you include a realistic number of activities, and also work out how you will monitor and measure the progress of your actions. Having a SMART action plan will really help everyone to focus.

Key criteria

The Action Plan needs to clearly show proposed actions and how they will be undertaken
It needs to be appropriate for the age and ability of the pupils (or there needs to be another version that is)
It needs to be in a format that is understood by any other member of staff
The Action Plan must be supported by the Head Teacher

Useful links and downloadsAction Plan template Planning your Eco Year Planning your Eco Year Video Introduction

Step 4

Monitoring and evaluation

Why Monitor and Evaluate? To find out if you are achieving the targets in your action plan you must monitor and measure your progress. This will allow you to evaluate the success of your activities and plan to make changes to ensure you are still working towards achieving your targets.

Key criteria

Monitoring should be meaningful to and appropriate for the pupils who implement it
Progress on the Action Plan must be discussed with the Eco-Committee and ideally discussed by the whole school
Some of the monitoring should be done as part of the class work

Useful links and downloadsWhat is a Monitoring help sheet Monitoring Video Introduction

Step 5

Informing and involving

Why inform and involve? It is important to ensure as many people as possible know about and are involved in your activities. Having more people involved in your Eco-actions will enable you to increase your impact and maximise the fun!

Key criteria

The whole school need to be aware of the role that the Eco-Committee play
All pupils should be given the opportunity to input ideas and suggestions if they wish to
The whole school must be made aware of what’s included in the Eco-Schools Action Plan and its progress
The wider community should be informed about the aims of the school, and any progress made

Useful links and downloads Day of Action for Schools Informing and Involving Video Introduction

Step 6

Producing an Eco-Code

Why have an Eco-Code? The Eco-Code is a fun way of capturing the main objectives of the Eco-Schools Committee. It should be presented in a format that’s meaningful to pupils and the school community. It can be used to raise the profile of the Eco-Committee and the action plan targets, and should be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains relevant and recognised.

Key criteria

The Eco-Code should be developed by the pupils
It should be revised, or at the very least reviewed each year
The whole school must be made aware of the Eco-Code, and what it stands for

Useful links and downloadsExamples of Eco-Code Eco-Code Video Introduction

Step 7

Linking to the curriculum

Why link to the curriculum? By ensuring that the Eco-Schools process links into the school’s curriculum, rather than being a separate activity for the small group on the Eco-Committee, ESDGC is delivered. It also ensures that other members of staff are involved in supporting the work. Pupils from throughout the school gain and understanding of how real life environmental issues are dealt with in a real-life setting.

Key criteria