Eco-Schools in an International Award that recognises when schools are making considerable achievements towards being an eco-friendly environment which prepares children to live their future lives with consideration for global issues. We currently have an Eco-Schools Silver Award and are working towards achieving Green Flag status.
‘Connecting Schools to Nature in North-East England’
Westlea Primary School are taking part in the ‘Connecting Schools to Nature in North-East England’ project which is being run by the British Ecological Society (BES) in partnership with Durham University. As part of the project, each class will take part in an exciting nature workshop over the coming months. To assess the benefits of the project, the BES have asked if children who take part in the workshops can fill in a short questionnaire about their connection to nature and general wellbeing. Children’s responses will be sent to the BES anonymously. If you do not wish BES to receive questionnaire responses from your child you can opt out by filling in a form available from the school office or in the document below.
Parent’s information sheet – Connecting Schools to Nature in North-East England
Westlea Warriors
The Westlea Warriors, our Eco Group, is made up of between two and four children from each class. The aim of the Eco Group is to help Westlea Primary School develop as an Eco-School by putting forward their views and the views of the children they represent to help the school become more environmentally aware. They also act as energy monitors ensuring that windows and external doors are closed; that lights and electrical equipment are switched off when the class leaves the room and that taps are not left running in the toilets.
Over the past few years, the Westlea Warriors have:
- Organised Earth Hour each year and introduced it with an assembly for the whole school.
- Helped to organise an Environmental Impact Day, with the support of OASES, for all children in Year 2 to Year 6. The day included a carousel of activities designed to help children think about the limited resources on Earth and how to use them sustainably.
- Obtained free trees from the Woodland Trust and planned where to plant them to benefit the whole school.
- Carried out an environmental audit.
- Received training in Campaigning for Change through the Parliamentary Educational Services outreach programme.
- Carried out a litter pick around the school grounds.
What’s next?
- Greenscape, a local community project, have asked Westlea Primary School to create a mosaic for their garden using reclaimed materials. The Westlea Warriors and our Gardening Club will design and make the mosaic this Spring.
- The Westlea Warriors are currently organising a litter and plastics pick-up on Seaham Beach.
- We are also hoping to develop an allotment for growing edible plants over the coming months.
