Published on:
04
June 2012
Banchory Primary School in Tullibody has become the first primary school in Clackmannanshire to receive their coveted Fairtrade Award.
To become a Fairtrade School, they had to complete five specific goals set by the Fairtrade Foundation.
The first of these was to set up a Fairtrade School Steering Group, with at least half of the group being pupils and to meet at least once a term.
Head Teacher, John Harley, said: "We involved pupils from primary 1-7 and met on a weekly basis. There was also a parent and learning assistant in the steering group. Afterwards we had to submit minutes of our meetings."
The school children then had to write and adopt a Fairtrade Policy, and be seen to be working together to draft the policy. The parent council, pupil council and head teacher signed the policy showing their full support.
Next, Banchory Primary School had to use and sell Fairtrade products as much as possible.
Mr Harley went on: "We wrote to our dinner ladies and Clackmannanshire councils catering for schools to ask if they would consider using Fairtrade products in our school lunches."
Banchory Primary use Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar in their staff room. They also bought a Fairtrade football as part of their football afternoon during Fairtrade week.
In addition they used Fairtrade Easter eggs as part of their Easter egg hunt, and ran a very successful Fairtrade tuck shop that was provided by the Fairtrade shop in Alva.
Pupils at the school were taught about Fairtrade in at least three subjects in two year groups.
To meet this goal, each class had to complete a Fairtrade topic in class to ensure all the children were aware of Fairtrade issues.
The children then had to be seen to take action for Fairtrade at least once a term in the school and once a year in the community.
Mr Harley added: "We ensured we held a Fairtrade activity each term. In the first term we had a Fairtrade snack attack competition, followed in the second by a Fairtrade Week involving a visit from African Arts Scotland."
Also during that term the school held a coffee morning, Fairtrade football, assembly and a Fairtrade Walk, raising awareness in the community.
In the third term the Banchory Primary pupils focus was on a Fairtrade Easter Egg Hunt, and in term four they held a Fairtrade Quiz.
The head teacher concluded: "We gathered our information and evidence throughout the year in our Fairtrade folder and then submitted all our evidence to the Fairtrade Foundation.
" I am very proud of how hard the Fairtrade Steering Group has worked and that we are the first primary school in Clackmannanshire to receive our Fairtrade Status. Well done to all the staff, pupils and parents."