Oldham school awarded Eco-Schools Green Flag certificate

Roundthorn Primary Academy has been awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag Certification.

The Oldham school demonstrated its commitment to encouraging good environmental behaviour amongst pupils and within the local community.  

The Eco-Schools awards have international accreditation; recognising and rewarding young people’s environmental actions for over 25 years. 

Their aim is to empower young people to take care of our planet now and throughout their lifetimes. 

Having started the journey in 2009, Roundthorn successfully achieved the bronze award in 2011 before securing its first Green Flag Award in 2014.

The school is now required to reapply for the certificate every two years and to prove that they are running as an eco-school.  

To achieve the award the children devised an action plan which they managed to achieve, overcoming the complications caused by the multiple lockdowns over the past year.  

A large portion of the project took place during lockdown, so the school created their own eco club with the children of key workers carrying out the in-school activities that related to a range of topics including school grounds, litter, biodiversity, healthy living and waste. 

The children who were doing home learning were also able to participate lessons over zoom, including completing tasks such as making homemade bird feeders from recycled yogurt pots, litter picking and planting seeds.  

Debra Schofield, Forest School Leader at Roundthorn Primary Academy, said: “Working towards the certification has been amazing fun for the students, they have learnt a lot about all aspects of being eco-friendly and have gone above and beyond with their own ideas. 

“Even throughout lockdown we managed to continue our charity work as part of global citizenship, and that included donating goods to the local foodbank.  

“There were some real highlights over the past year, including watching some stick insects hatch which taught the children about habitats and lifecycles. 

"They also wrote a letter to the school’s milk provider and succeeded in changing the style of the bottles so they no longer have plastic straws.  

“Throughout lockdown we also encouraged the children to participate in our ‘Wake Up! Shake Up!’ events, as well as Joe Wicks workout videos for kids, and we did some workshops to learn about mindfulness and how to take care of our mental health.” 

Roundthorn Primary Academy forms part of the Focus Academy Trust – a charitable primary schools trust which is based in the North West of England and West Yorkshire with a vision of providing great schools at the heart of communities where children thrive, achieve and succeed. 

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