Marches School awarded a coveted Eco-Schools Green Flag with Merit

Students at the Marches School, Oswestry, have earned an international accreditation this academic year, recognising their amazing work in making their school more environmentally friendly and raising eco-awareness in fellow students.

The Eco-Schools programme was established in 1994 and is now delivered in more than 70 countries across the globe. More than 1 million pupils attended an Eco-School in England in 2022-23.

Students at the Marches School first formed an Eco-Committee, then collaborated with Dr Renwick, Miss Price and Mr Hopley to conduct an environmental review, assessing how eco-friendly their school was. They reviewed everything from biodiversity within their school grounds to how students and staff members travel to school. Building on their findings, students planned a year of action designed to advance their school’s green credentials, improve their local environment and protect our planet.

The Eco-Committee connected their work to 3 Eco-Schools topics: biodiversity, energy and waste. Projects included: planting 1000 hedgerow trees on site, energy switch off initiatives and recycling crisp packets.

Much of this would not have been possible without the funding, help and support from the Marches School site team, teachers and local organisations such as Oswestry Council, Shropshire Council, the Woodland Trust, Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the British Ironworks.

In addition, the Eco Schools campaign praised the Marches School for incorporating environmental issues across different lessons, including geography and science, as well as other subjects such as photography and design technology.

The Marches Eco Schools Co-ordinator, Dr Renwick said; “I am so proud of our Eco Committee and their enthusiasm. Students are now creating and leading their own projects – including a sensory eco-garden. This year we will continue to support biodiversity, save energy and look at how we can reduce and recycle more waste, as well as looking at how we can integrate sustainability across the curriculum.”

The school also received praise from the local community with the Mayor of Oswestry, Councillor Olly Rose congratulating The Marches School on achieving Eco Award status; “I’m delighted by this achievement and having heard the detail of what the Marches have been doing to achieve it, it is really remarkable. A lot of hard work has been put in by both staff and students, they set a great example to everyone, showing what can be done at a local level to address climate change and the biodiversity emergency. The young people have excellent ideas and give me hope, as they are the adults of the future.”

Eco-Schools England Manager, Adam Flint, said; “The Eco-Schools Green Flag award is an internationally recognised symbol of high environmental standards. The pupils and school staff that earn the award deserve immense credit for their hard work, determination, and creativity. Their passion for protecting our planet is an inspiration to us all.”

To learn more about Eco-Schools head to www.eco-schools.org.uk

^Some of our Eco-Group students: Mara Goodwin, Ailsa Woolley and Pheobe Yates.