Pupils at Goytre Fawr Primary School have proven their green credentials after being awarded a top eco award and have become one of only 4 schools in Monmouthshire to do so.
Pupils at Goytre Fawr Primary School have been awarded the prestigious Platinum Flag Award after previously gaining three Green Flag Awards thanks to the environmental education programme, Eco-Schools.
Eco-Schools is an international programme run in Wales by environmental charity, Keep Wales Tidy and funded by the Welsh Government. Over 90% of schools in Wales are registered on the programme.
The Eco-Schools programme inspires and empowers pupils to be leaders of change in their community, helping them learn about sustainable living and global citizenship while giving them the information and support they need to make changes that will benefit their school, local environment and wider community, such as reducing waste, energy consumption, transport, biodiversity, healthy living and litter issues.
As part of their Eco-Schools Platinum assessment, Pupils at Goytre Fawr Primary School worked hard to take the Eco message into the wider community, with Project Nestbox – where children constructed and erected nestboxes for birds at school and in the local park, and their involvement in the Community Gardens at Capel Ed, Goytre.
School based projects included building an Eco greenhouse from plastic bottles, minibeast hotels from recycled materials and reusing logs to create Art in the Environment minibeast habitats.
The Eco Committee are delighted to receive their Platinum flag and are determined that Goytre Fawr Primary will remain Green
“Remember our Eco Code… Protect our Environment to Protect our Future!”
Bryony Bromley, Education Officer for Keep Wales Tidy said:
“The Platinum Flag is a very impressive achievement and highlights the enthusiasm and commitment that Goytre Fawr Primary School has towards sustainable development. The dedication of the Eco-Committee over many years has been inspirational. I’d like to congratulate and thank all of the pupils and staff involved for their hard work!”
Carl Sargeant AM, Minister for Natural Resources said: “Many congratulations to the pupils and teachers in all the schools for achieving this prestigious award.
I’m delighted that the Welsh Government has been able to fund Keep Wales Tidy to operate the Eco-Schools programme in Wales. By doing so, many thousands of children and young people across Wales are learning about their environment and the many benefits it brings us in terms of clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and healthy soils in which to grow flowers, trees and crops. Pupils taking part in the programme have gained skills and are better equipped to deal with the future challenges we face through climate change and make better decisions to ensure our natural resources continue to provide benefits for future generations.”
