Eco Schools Programme
St John Bosco Primary School Erskine, Renfrewshire
www.ecoschoolsscotland.org
www.eco-schools.org
St John Bosco Primary School is a large suburban primary school located in Erskine. The school roll is currently 220. The school has focused on litter, energy and the school environment for their Eco Schools work and gained a first Green Flag Award in October 2004. They are also working on the Health Promoting Schools initiative, having held a health focus day, which looked at diet, mental well-being and exercise, and are involved in Walk to School Week twice a year.
Programme Implementation
Eight pupils, two from each class P4 -7, were elected onto the school Eco Council by their peers in a proper election, with a polling station having been set up in the gym hall and all pupils in the school encouraged to vote!
Pupils in the school have been involved in surveying the school grounds to identify litter hot spots and other areas that could be improved. New playground games have been marked out and a garden created, pupils being involved in a design competition to decide what they wanted where. The primary 2 pupils were involved in the patio garden project as part of their enterprise work.
Focus on Energy
The school has also done much work on energy with primary 7 pupils studying renewable and non-renewable energy sources. This led pupils to look into the possibility of the school having its own renewable energy device installed and in 2005 they eventually managed to get a 2.5kW wind turbine erected on the hill behind the playground. It supplies the school with electricity and provides an interactive learning resource for pupils in the area. This turbine is expected to reduce electricity costs at the school by around 14% and is the first of its kind in Renfrewshire. It is an excellent example of 'thinking globally, acting locally' and will allow pupils to see the benefits of renewable energy at first hand. As part of the energy project, a weather station has also been installed in the school and pupils will now be able to monitor rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed. In addition to this, a computer programme will allow pupils to see how much energy is being generated by the turbine, allowing them to study energy consumption in their immediate environment. It is also anticipated that this initiative will benefit the wider community and increase awareness of renewable energy issues across Renfrewshire by encouraging neighbouring schools and local residents to visit the site.
Primary 6 and 7 pupils worked on a global citizenship project which focused on the knowledge and understanding of social justice and equality and of diversity in the world and for the need to respect our environment and a commitment to sustainable development. A 'Sweatshop' workshop was part of the project run by UNICEF.
The school is very much part of the wider community having displayed information about the Eco Schools work in the local communities of Erskine and Bishopton. They have enjoyed inviting people in from the community to help them celebrate successes.
St John Bosco Primary School
Barrhill Road
Erskine
Renfrewshire
PA8 6BX
T : 0141 812 2431
Background
The Eco Schools programme is an international initiative designed to encourage whole-school action for the environment. It is an award scheme that accredits schools that make a commitment to continuously improve their environmental performance. It is also a learning resource that raises awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues throughout activities linked to curriculum subjects and areas. Involvement in the programme empowers pupils to make decisions and to take action about these issues in the school and the wider community. Involvement in the programme is linked to the Scottish Executive Education Department's (SEED's) National Priorities, specifically relating to values and citizenship education. Evidence shows, however, that involvement can have a beneficial and positive effect on other National Priorities, relating to such issues as pupil motivation, confidence and self-esteem, discipline, inclusion, attainment & achievement and whole school ethos.