Sustainability in Education

Sustainability in Education enables people to develop the knowledge, values and skills to participate in decisions about the way we do things individually and collectively, both locally and globally, that will improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for the future.

While OLGCBNS has been inadvertently promoting sustainability over the years and have won awards for our work in biodiversity, we now actively engage in many initiatives and activities that promote sustainability in education, teaching our pupils ways to live that are ultimately better for the environment.

These activities and initiatives include but are not restricted to

Yearly uniform swop that takes place in June.
Clothing Collection fundraiser.
DLR Picker pals.
2nd class pupils engage with the community and take part in litter pick ups with the Watsons Residents Association and the local Active Retirement Group.
We have identified an energy saver and water saver in every class
The Green Schools committee worked on the Travel Flag 2021-2023 which we achieved. One of the aspects of this was promoting sustainable travel. The Committee promoted scooting to school, safe cycling to school along with the park and stride initiative. We are currently working on our Biodiversity Flag.
5th class pupils will receive a “Cycle Right” 5 week safe cycling programme this term.
We have a vegetable patch which was re-developed in the 2022/2023 school year. Children will sow and harvest a different veg in each class level every year.
Outdoor classroom – plans to re-develop this area are underway.
Insect hotels in our woodland garden.
We have a well established butterfly garden.
Tap Tastic Less Plastic - We encourage the use of reusable drinks bottles
We discourage the use of cling film.

Last summer, we created an area (Pollintor) in conjunction with Walls Construction that will be seeded for spring and summer flowers to promote pollination. Pollination is the process that allows plants to reproduce. In some cases, the wind and rain blows pollen between plants, which causes pollen to transfer to the female reproductive part of the plant. Lots of our animals and birds feed on fruits and seeds from wild plants that grow. Without bees and other insects pollinating these wild plants, they wouldn't produce the fruits and seeds that animals and birds need to eat.

The school will celebrate Earth Day(April 22nd) to protect the planet from things like pollution and deforestation. We will try to increase awareness about environmental issues. We will remind our school community that the health of our planet determines our future and that we need to work together to protect it for future generations.

Activities the children may engage in are – encourage more time in the fresh air, have a class picnic, play outdoor games, litter pick in the school community, take a walk in the school woodland garden.

“You are never too small to make a difference”