Awards for schools’ environmental work
The Mayor of Solihull Councillor Stuart Davies joined schools and local businesses on Friday as they shared ideas about the environment and received Greener Schools Awards.
Primary, secondary and special schools from across the borough met for the Solihull Greener Schools Award Celebration after a morning of workshops in which they discussed new technologies, low-cost energy efficiency measures and the schools’ energy engagement programme. They were joined by local Business Champions who have been supporting the schools and the awards across the borough.
The Mayor of Solihull Councillor Stuart Davies said: By encouraging pupils to participate in sustainable travel, recycling and reducing waste initiatives, you are ensuring that young people across Solihull are united behind a worthwhile cause that can change their futures for the better.
“To all of the schools that embedded sustainability in their curriculum, all the teachers that have given their time to help pupils engage with the climate emergency and all of the businesses that supported their efforts – thank you for making a real difference.”
Schools have worked towards Solihull Greener Schools Awards to develop a sense of pride in the school’s sustainability activities and to encourage further activities through highlighting positive stories and role models.
The awards have three levels ranging from Level 1 which is given when a team of pupils help to raise awareness and improve their school environment, to Level 3 which is given when the whole school introduces the internationally agreed Global Goals and finds links to the curriculum.
The Global Goals initiative is a target of 17 goals for a better world by 2030, which were agreed by world leaders in 2015, with the intention of governments, businesses, civil society and the general public working together to build a better future for everyone.
The Business Champions presented awards to schools as follows:
Robert Elliot from Hogarths presented a Level 1 award to #WidneyJuniorSchool and Level 3 awards to Monkspath Junior and Infant School, St Patricks CE Primary Academy and Sharmans Cross Junior School.
Katie Williams from Fieldfisher presented Level 3 awards to Haslucks Green Junior School and Burman Infant School.
David Murphy from Telephone Europe presented a Level 3 award to Balsall Common Primary School.
Andy Holding from Birmingham Airport presented a Level 3 award to Fordbridge Community Primary School.
Liz Allister from Birmingham Business Park presented a Level 2 award to Merstone School.
The schools were also presented with stunning Owl trophies, hand crafted by the Community Gardening Services project in Chelmsley Wood. The project gives people with learning disabilities and mental health problems opportunities to carry out gardening and maintenance tasks.
To find out more about the Community Gardening Services project: https://www.familycaretrust.co.uk/our-services/learning-disability-service/community-gardening-service/
For further information about the Greener Schools Award: https://www.solgrid.org.uk/education/support-services/education-for-sustainable-development/
Photo, left to right: Mayor of Solihull Councillor Stuart Davies, Sharon O’Keefe – Monkspath Junior and Infant School, Gemma Snowden – Sharmans Cross Junior School, Sheela Fisher – St Patrick’s C.E Primary Academy, Mandy Green – Widney Junior School, Robert Elliot – Hogarths.