Published on:
08
January 2013
Banchory Primary School have become the first Clackmannanshire primary school to receive Fairtrade status and this week received their certificate to mark their outstanding achievement.
To become a Fairtrade school they had to complete five goals set by the Fairtrade Foundation.
These were 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.
Education Convener, Councillor Ellen Forson, who presented the school with their certificate, said: "It involved the pupils from primary 1-7, who met on a weekly basis. There was also a parent and learning assistant in the steering group. And afterwards they had to submit minutes of their meetings."
Pupils also had to work together to write and adopt a Fairtrade Policy. This was signed by the parent council, pupil council and head teacher as evidence of their full support.
Their next task was to use and sell Fairtrade products as much as possible.
Councillor Forson added: "The pupils wrote to our dinner ladies and Clackmannanshire Councils catering for schools to ask if they would consider using Fairtrade products in their school lunches."
Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar was also used in the school's staff room, and they bought a Fairtrade football as part of the football afternoon during Fairtrade week.
Also during 2012, in their bid to achieve Fairtrade status, the school used Fairtrade Easter eggs as part of our Easter egg hunt and also ran a very successful Fairtrade tuck shop that was provided by the Fairtrade shop in Alva.
Councillor Forson went on: "They learned about Fairtrade in at least three subjects in two year groups. To meet this goal, each class completed a Fairtrade topic in class. This ensured that all children were aware of Fairtrade issues."
They were also required to take action for Fairtrade at least once a term in the school and once a year in the community and ensure they held a Fairtrade activity each term.
In term one they held a Fairtrade snack attack competition, while in the next term the Banchory pupils during Fairtrade Week hosted a visit from African Arts Scotland, held a coffee morning, Fairtrade football, an assembly and a Fairtrade Walk to raise awareness in the community.
In term three they held a Fairtrade Easter Egg Hunt, and followed that up in term four with a Fairtrade Quiz.
They gathered information and evidence throughout the year in their Fairtrade folder and then submitted it to the Fairtrade Foundation.
Principal Teacher, Linsey MacMillan said: "I am very proud of how hard the Fairtrade Steering Group has worked and that we are the first primary school in Clackmannanshire Council to receive our Fairtrade Status. Well done to all the staff, pupils and parents."