Published on:
11
March 2013
Tillicoultry Primary School has joined a very elite group of schools who have been awarded a third Eco Green Flag.
For a number of years the staff and pupils of the school have worked hard in issues including the environment, sustainability, global citizenship and the value of a low carbon future.
The culmination of their hard work has seen the award of the third Green Flag to the School, which was presented to them this week by Councillor Ellen Forson, Convener of the Council's Education, Sport and Leisure Committee.
With initial awards of bronze and silver certificates, the school has maintained their Green Flag status for more than six years, and everyone was delighted last week to have their hard work acknowledged by being allowed to keep their status for another two years.
Councillor Forson said: "Lots of little changes can make a great difference, but with extensive school grounds I have actually witnessed considerable change even over the last two years since the award of their previous flag."
Tillicoultry Primary School is also a Rights Respecting School and are aware of their right to a pleasant environment and are particularly responsible in maintaining both a litter free playground and playing field.
As part of the work by the school in achieving their third flag they have made changes to taps and the installation of sensor controlled lights. This has with energy and water consumption. They have also worked on reducing food waste from lunchtime meals and increasing recycling has helped focus their attention on careful use of resources.
Councillor Forson added: "Some of the greatest changes are seen in the outdoors. The playing fields are now encircled by a path which can be accessed in all weathers to the benefit of pupils and the local community.
"Planters, supplied by a local firm and built by parents have been painted and are in use by gardening groups. More than 500 trees have already been planted in the grounds to encourage biodiversity, and work to add fruit trees and build willow structures is continuing."
Work has also been undertaken to raise pupil awareness of Global Citizenship and links with a school in Malawi have allowed communication and support benefitting both communities.
Nearer to home, pupils at Tillicoultry PS are working to make the school environs a safer traffic zone and have recently introduced a toilet behaviour charter which was voted on by all pupils.
Changes to the way Green Flag awards are made, mean that although the school will be maintaining work in these established areas, their main focus for the next two years will be on Health and Wellbeing and on Energy.
Councillor Forson went on: "Funding recently obtained will permit the installation of exercise equipment in the outdoors encouraging pupils to keep fit, and already teachers are planning how to help pupils calculate our environmental impact.
"I am particularly proud of the efforts of the whole school community not only in gaining a Green Flag, but in displaying the sustained effort necessary to maintain their Green Flag status.
"We aim to help pupils become responsible citizens, effective contributors, successful learners and confident Individuals and working for the Green Flag has helped them do just that."