Comments (0)

We Did It!!

Green Flag Award
Eco-Schools have just awarded Bideford College with the Green Flag Award.
Eco-Schools is an international award programme that guides schools on their sustainable journey, providing a framework to help embed these principles into the heart of school life. Schools work towards gaining one of three awards – Bronze, Silver and the prestigious Green Flag award, which symbolises excellence in the field of environmental activity.
Miss Coleman and Mr Pyle are the environmental project coordinators and between them and with the commitment and assistance of other College staff and students have been able to pursue changes which are having an impact on the way the college is run. Over the past four years huge progress has been made at Bideford College in delivering a sustainable education to the students and establishing sustainable attitudes amongst staff, students and the wider community.A school action team has been established which consists of staff, students and a governor. The action team have been working together to promote Bideford College’s eco code: “Recycle all we can, put litter in the bin, save energy, travel smart.”
Bideford College has on site recycling facilities, which has not only reduced the amount of waste that is sent to landfill but has reduced associated costs as well. A series of audits have been carried out with Global Action Plan and action plans have been put in place to reduce the College’s carbon footprint further.
Last year the College was awarded the Devon Travelwise Gold Schools Award in recognition of its sustainable travel plan. More students are now cycling taff are car sharing.
Bideford College has specialist science status and each year has had a particular theme, with this years being sustainability. The College held a community launch day at Hallsannery field study centre and a range of activities has been undertaken across the curriculum.
As part of the “Big Climate Thing” project, which was run at the College by Mr Knowler, ten students took a long hard look at climate change and the three main parts to the story: the green house effect; global warming and climate change. Also this year around 350 students at the College took part in the Carbon Roadshow, which was run by BP. Students spent the day researching and finding out about global warming and then presenting their ideas. Some of the students involved, who are also part of the school action team, are now working to calculate the carbon footprint of different class rooms around the College and will then look at ways to reduce the footprints. This kind of work at the College goes toward delivering a sustainable education to the students.
Within the new College, Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, the College has been identified as a national demonstrator for sustainability. The programme has focussed on providing a facility that will achieve BREEAM “Excellent” rating and also be carbon neutral.
So much is going on at the College in order to strive towards an excellence in the field of environmental activity. We will continue to build on the progress we have made in the last four years in order to maintain our Green Flag status.

Comments (0)

Green Flag assessment day

Everyone was nervous but quietly confident as Katie and Ruth went to welcome and collect the inspector – Mark Ward.

The action team showed Mark around the school showing and explaining the various environmental work that is being done at Bideford College. There was so much to tell him about…the recycling that goes on here, how we are cracking down on saving energy, the new school build, the bike storage area…the list goes on.

As break time approached we all sat down and discussed in greater depth what we are trying to achieve and what we have already done and are still doing to help Bideford College become a more ‘eco-friendly’ school. We discussed some projects that have already taken place, such as ‘The Big Climate Thing’ and the carbon roadshow workshop that visited earlier in the year. Mark seemed quite impressed with all the environmental work happening at the College. So much good stuff happening here!

After another walk around the site we ended the day with a cup of coffee and more questions and answering in C11. Mark gave us lots of good ideas on ways of moving forward and building on what we already do. When Mark had gone the action team discussed how they could put in place the ideas that had been given to them.

It was a long and nail biting wait…but when we found out that WE GOT THE GREEN FLAG, we were all really happy and relieved. Now we hope to do more for the environment at Bideford College and improve on the high standards that have already been set!!!

From Katie Leveridge and S. Coleman

Comments (0)

Sustainable Transport Mini-Site Online Now

The all new Sustainable Transport Mini-Site is up and running now packed full of handy hints & advice on how to really make a difference on your environmental impact when it comes to getting to school.
Check it out

Comments (0)

Green Flag Visit

Miss Colemans report will appear here shortly.

Comments (0)

Eco School Green Flag

Don’t forget that this Friday is Eco Schools Green Flag Day.

Comments (0)

Next Eco Meeting

Calling all Action Team Members!!!

The next eco meeting is on Tuesday 17th June at 1.10pm in S4.

Comments (0)

Hello world!

Hi & welcome to the brand new Eco Schools Mini site. Here you’ll find all the info you need about the Eco Schools initiative & what we are doing about our quest for a sustainable future @ Bideford College.
Join us and help to change the lives of your friends, family & community.