Schools

Thank you to our sponsor for 2012 - The National Forest Company

The National Forest Company leads the creation of the National Forest, a new wooded landscape for the nation across 200 square miles of central England.

Over half of the Forest area is in Leicestershire and individuals, families, communities and businesses can all get involved. This award is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the families and individuals who make truly outstanding ‘green footprints’ in their everyday lives.

The shortlisted schools:

Ivanhoe College, Ashby de la Zouch

Ivanhoe College has been working hard to reduce its carbon footprint by running a broad range of environmental projects and including these within the curriculum. They have reduced electricity use by 15% over the past year through practical energy efficiency measures as well as behavioural change; this included almost 1000 students and staff getting involved in the Big Switch Off. The College has reduced its paper use and waste and increased recycling across the campus by installing recycling bins. Students have created a vegetable garden, planted trees, organised clothing collections for charity and led environmental assemblies.

Kegworth Primary's Green Gang

Kegworth Primary School’s Green Gang is a large group of children aged from 5-10 years. They volunteer their time, energy and infectious enthusiasm on a weekly basis to help make their school and community a greener, more environmentally friendly place to live. The Green Gang is the driving force behind projects such as energy and water saving campaigns, planting fruit trees and installing bird feeders, bird boxes and water butts. The school funds all these projects through plant sales and textile and bric-a-brac collections. Pupils and staff are currently preparing to run an Environmental Olympics, where other local schools will be invited to share ideas and aspirations.

Newton Burgoland Primary School

Staff and pupils from Newton Burgoland Primary School carried out their own energy and water audits and discovered that they had a very high carbon footprint. The school organised a thermal imaging evening, where pupils monitored where heat was escaping from their school and then worked hard to change their energy behaviour. In addition, double glazing and energy meters were installed and lighting was upgraded, with the overall result of reducing the school’s carbon footprint by a quarter (7.1 tonnes of CO2). As a celebration event and to mark the school’s 160th birthday, pupils teamed up with children from another local school to plant 160 native trees within the National Forest.

And the winner is: NEWTON BURGOLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

Sue Ward, Headteacher, and representatives from Newton Burgoland Primary School receiving their award from award sponsor Sophie Churchill, Chief Executive of the National Forest Company