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Nanstallon Primary becomes an Eco-School with Distinction!

Eco-Club members: Archie, Charlie and Seren

A school in Cornwall is celebrating some fantastic news for its community, after being awarded the title of Eco-School – thanks to the work of their pupil-led Eco-Club.

Pupils at Nanstallon School, near Bodmin, have joined children at thousands of schools around the UK who are already acting on climate responsibility thanks to a ‘simple seven-step programme.’

Charlotte Clarke ran the Eco Club at Nanstallon Primary. She explained: “As part of the Eco-Schools programme, schools can choose from 10 eco-focussed topics to explore. They then focus on three of these topics over the course of a year.”

15 pupils at Nanstallon School focussed on waste, biodiversity and energy, with activities created around these topics to expand the learning opportunities of everyone in the school.

Charlotte added: “Nanstallon School held assemblies, planted vegetables, trees, set campaigns for families to take part in, made bug hotels, nominated eco monitors, created bird feeders and went on bug hunts!”

Involving children in the Eco-Schools project in the UK offers numerous benefits that extend beyond the classroom. Participation fosters environmental awareness and education, equipping pupils with the knowledge to make sustainable choices and develop eco-friendly habits.

Charlotte added, “Engaging in these activities enhances academic performance by integrating practical applications of subjects like science and geography, making learning more dynamic and relevant.”

“This early exposure to environmental issues also encourages responsibility and leadership, as children take active roles in decision-making and community projects.”

Collaborative decision making and the authentic voice of the child is central to the ethos of Nanstallon School.

Ben Stephenson, Headteacher at Nanstallon Primary School, said: “This project has deepened the children's sense of purpose, responsibility and ownership of their environment.”

“The process of forming a democratic group and then evaluating how we do things now, so we can improve things for the future through action and evaluation, as part of our curriculum, is also a genuine way to dovetail doing good and being ethical with a learning process.”

Eco-Schools is a growing phenomenon which encourages young people to engage in their environment by allowing them the opportunity to actively protect it.

The children at Nanstallon ‘galvanised’ each other to make positive changes, through reducing food waste, managing waste, making the school environment greener and engaging the community to evaluate their habits and make positive changes.

One of the biggest moments was the planting of 20 new trees in a new orchard at the school, working closely with local gardener George Kestel, and with the help of parents the children, Ether Clarke and Leon Gilbert. This was supported by Cornwall Council with Ben Norward supplying three different species of tree to suit the school grounds.

Ben added: “This was all about engaging in a national project of global value that connects environmental education and action and demonstrates how a small cog, at a local level, can make a big difference."

“It’s about questioning the everyday practises you can change such as:

How much food do we waste?

How do we encourage nature to thrive on our grounds?

Do we buy and use products that harm human health and the waterways?

Do we need to use so much paper and printing?”

“Collectively, schools can make a huge difference just by asking the right questions and giving children the autonomy, ownership and guidance to make these happen”, Ben said.

The Eco-Schools programme is designed to be pupil-led and the Eco-Schools Green Flag is an annual accreditation which celebrates the efforts of young people in that community.

Nanstallon school has now been awarded Green Flag with Distinction status, funded by Cornwall Council, which the pupils are rightly proud of.

Eco Club’s Seren, from Year 4, said she ‘just loves learning new things’: “I have learnt so much about taking care of the environment that I will keep doing forever. I’d love to continue to do things like composting in the future; it’s easy and really helps you to live positively.”

The children have also already planted pumpkins for the autumn. Archie from Year 3 said: “Eco-Club is also about making things and it’s great to be arty while learning about the environment.”

Charlie, from Year 5, added: “You learn so many new things like what lives in bug hotels, how to plant trees. I never knew trees were so easy to plant!”

Eco Club gives all children a voice, helping those who are quieter develop the skills to express themselves and speak out.

Charlotte highlighted a huge change in the children’s confidence. She said: “One child was too shy to speak in an assembly, but after a term of learning about sustainability, that same pupil confidently stood before the entire school and led the assembly. It was one of the most rewarding aspects of Eco-Club.”

Charlotte concluded: “Promoting Eco-Schools in Cornwall is crucial because it installs a strong sense of environmental responsibility in our young people, ensuring they understand the importance of sustainability from an early age.”

“Through this programme we not only benefit our children’s education but also contribute to a more sustainable and vibrant Cornwall.”