Our Lathallan School Eco Club is delighted to announce we’ve been awarded our sixth Eco-Schools Green Flag Award and that we’re celebrating 15 years of involvement in the Eco Schools programme in 2023/24.
The Eco-Schools programme, operated by Keep Scotland Beautiful, is a student-led initiative that empowers young individuals to bring about positive environmental changes in their schools and communities.
Head of Science, Mrs Jordan said;
“It’s great to have the Eco-Schools programme as a platform for young people to make an impact. At Lathallan, our pupils have wholeheartedly embraced this initiative and have made significant contributions to the core topic of Climate Action, as well as two additional topics – Food and the Environment, and Energy.”
A senior Lathallan pupil said;
“Our efforts to address food waste led us to collaborate with The Haven Foodbank in Stonehaven. After evaluating our school lunch system, we realised that a significant amount of leftover food was being discarded daily. By partnering with the food bank, we have been able to reduce food waste and support our local community.”
Another Lathallan pupil said;
“Concerns about energy prices and their impact on the school led us to select the topic of Energy. To address this, we have been closely monitoring electricity usage in different buildings and encouraging students to switch off electrical equipment during breaks. This initiative not only contributes to our goal of Climate Action but also raises awareness about energy conservation.”
Another pupil involved in the activity said;
“Under the umbrella of Climate Action, we have prioritised improving students’ knowledge of Climate Change and promoting awareness. Our whole school Ecological Pledge aims to reduce our environmental footprint, and we have regularly discussed Climate Change in school assemblies throughout the year.”
In addition to these initiatives, our pupils have actively engaged in various other environmentally focused activities and learning. Students enrolled in the N5/Higher Environmental Science course have conducted recycling audits, participated in beach cleans, litter picks, and researched UN sustainable goals. In our Junior School, sustainability lessons have been integrated into the curriculum. Our Senior School pupils have been packaging unused food for the food bank during break times, and some students have written persuasive essays reflecting on their experiences.
The Eco-Schools Scotland Green Flag Award Assessment Feedback commended our school’s efforts, stating;
“Congratulations to everyone at Lathallan School for achieving an amazing 6th Eco-Schools Scotland Green Flag Award! You have worked really hard on your wide-ranging actions to make your school a more environmentally friendly place to be.”
The feedback also acknowledged our achievements in reducing paper use, monitoring energy consumption, involving the local community in litter picks and beach cleans, reducing food waste, and supporting the Sustainable Development Goal of No Hunger.
Looking ahead, we are excited to embark on our next Green Flag journey. We plan to continue planting trees and ensure their long-term maintenance and we aim to further embrace the 5Rs of waste management – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle – by organising events that encourage the reuse of clothes, books, toys, and other items.