We have an Eco-Team in school with two representatives from each class across school. This year, they will be working towards a Green Flag Award.

Areas of development

They have conducted an environmental review and decided on the three most important areas for our school to focus on. The three topics were:

• Marine
• Litter
• Waste

Over the year, they will be making changes around school and developing existing and new ideas to make our school and local environment more eco-friendly.

Eco Code

The Eco-Team worked on creating an eco-code that we could share with school to encourage children to be part of our initiative. They worked on ideas at home and then we came back together to share them and develop one eco-code that we could be proud of.

Action Plan

After deciding on the three areas of development, the Eco-Committee developed an action plan where they decided on a number of small changes that could be made around school and new ideas that they could share within the school community. See the link below to read about their plans.

Waste

As part of the waste topic, we have made links with Gateshead West Pre-Loved Uniform Scheme. They have visited school and talked to the children in an assembly about their brilliant initiative. They are opening a new site at St Cuthberts Hall on Shibdon Road and access will be to the right of the building around the back. Their new site will open June 17th.

The Gateshead West Uniform Scheme operates on a “pay as you feel” basis, enabling parents to obtain pre-loved school uniforms at a price that suits their budget. By offering gently used uniforms, the initiative not only addresses the financial burden many families face when purchasing new school attire but also promotes sustainability by reducing waste and preventing perfectly usable uniforms from ending up in landfills.

“We are delighted to announce the expansion of the Gateshead West Uniform Scheme to a new site,” said Emma Mons White, the Founder. “Since its inception, the scheme has been instrumental in supporting families and promoting sustainability. By providing cost savings and preventing discarded uniforms from going to waste, we believe this initiative can make a significant difference in the lives of our community.”

The Gateshead West Uniform Scheme is made possible through the collaboration of local businesses, schools, and dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to collect, sort, and distribute pre-loved uniforms. The initiative would not be possible without the generosity and support of these stakeholders, who share a common goal of empowering families and fostering environmental responsibility.

For more information visit their website: https://www.gatesheadprelovedschooluniform.com/