Flying the environmental flag at Didcot school

Solar panels, hedge planting and a huge reduction in carbon output has seen a Didcot school gain a prestigious award.

Aureus School is celebrating the receiving of the status of an Eco-School which means it can literally fly the flag when it comes to protecting the environment.

Headteacher Kirsty Rogers initiated the installation of solar panels at the school and that has reduced its carbon output by 6.2 tonnes. 

Students have planted more than 140 hedge and tree saplings, sponsored by the Woodland Trust, while introducing a one litre container in the toilet cistern has saved thousands of litres of water.

“Eco-Schools is incredibly important to educate our young people about the environment and to show the community how they can make a difference in practical ways,” said Brad Rayner, Head of Humanities who founded the school’s Eco Club.

Members of the club have been able to monitor the amount of electricity being generated by the solar panels which were installed last year. The school has also been visited by Thames Water to talk about the proposed Abingdon Reservoir development which the company hopes to bring to fruition.

The school, a member of the GLF Multi Academy Trust, also implemented a ‘Cut Your Carbon’ campaign and worked with the Eco Club to highlight issues from litter picking to reducing energy use. They also created social media videos with tips on both how to save water and power.

“The leadership team is fully supportive of all the Eco-Committee initiatives which are kept on agendas as meeting items and across social media. The senior leadership team has led litter picking teams both in the community and around our school,” said Mr Rayner.

Eco-Schools, operated by Keep Britain Tidy, started in 1994 and has both guided and empowered young people to deliver projects to make their school more sustainable while increasing environmental learning. It devised a seven-step plan to follow which culminates in the creation of an Eco-Code for students to follow.

After working through all of the steps schools are able to apply for the prestigious Green Flag accreditation which celebrates the ecological achievements of the young people involved.

“It clearly demonstrates that their hard work is appreciated, and it provides them with the confidence and motivation needed to continue actively engaging with environmental issues throughout their lifetimes,” says the accreditation award.