Private School News

The future’s not just bright, it’s green at the Marist

The coveted Eco Schools Green flag is the culmination of a year’s work by the Marist Senior school in Sunninghill, Ascot. In securing this prestigious accolade the school has improved its environmental efficiency and taught students about the importance of protecting the environment through sustainable development. The Green Flag is awarded to schools who exhibit proactive environmental work covering topics such as water, health and wellbeing, waste management, litter, transport, school grounds, biodiversity and energy.

Schools throughout the country can work towards gaining one of three awards – Bronze, Silver and the elite Green Flag award, which symbolizes excellence in the field of environmental activity. Bronze and Silver are both self accredited through this website and Green Flag is externally assessed by Keep Britain Tidy. The Marist Senior School obtained their Bronze and Silver Award last summer and have since been working diligently towards the Green Flag status.

Among the numerous projects the Marist Senior School has undertaken, some of the most successful and popular have been the lunch time Growing Club, the reduce poster competition, the recycling competition and the sunflower race. The staff and pupils have made significant efforts to reduce paper through purchasing new printers that offer a double-sided printing facility, recycling boxes in every classroom, an online newsletter and e-mailing letters home to reduce paper consumption further.

During the schools’ inspection for the award, the Marist School was praised for embracing the message throughout the curriculum, its informed student Eco Action Team and its litter free environment. Year 11 Students are assisting and taking an active part with the growing Club as part of their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Miss Spoors, the Eco Schools coordination teacher said: “The Green Flag Award is a combination of hard work over the year with a huge number of staff and students involved. I would like to thank Environmental Officer Charlie Atkin and her team for helping us achieve the Bronze and Silver Award in the summer term and this final result which we will now build upon. We are especially proud of this award as it puts us amongst the few secondary schools in the country to have achieved this!”

Mr Karl McCloskey, Headteacher for the Senior School added, “This award is something the whole school is exceptionally proud of. It would not have been possible without the commitment of the whole community to become more eco friendly. The wider community of parents and friends have embraced being contacted via our E-Newsletter, and I eagerly anticipate the fruits of Growing Clubs’ garden and herb patch this summer.”