Energy Coast UTC has been awarded the coveted Eco School Green Flag status, an internationally recognised award for excellence in environmental action and learning.
Fiona Heslam, Lead Teacher for Climate Change Education, has helped students transform knowledge into positive climate protection action through her work with the student-led Eco Energy Group. Energy Coast UTC was also the first of 80 UK schools to feature on the UN sponsored interactive world map of Climate Change Teachers.
The school worked its way up to Green Flag level by achieving Bronze and Silver awards. This required the completion of a number of self-accredited steps including, amongst others, the formation of the Eco Group, carrying out an environmental review and the development of an action plan.
“This is great news for the school and testament to the hard work that’s been put in, but for me it’s about more than just the Green Flag,” said Fiona Heslam. “It’s about starting to live a green narrative. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to work with our students and staff and what a distance we have travelled! Together, we will keep fighting for our air, our sea and our planet.”
This achievement is the latest in a long line of successful initiatives undertaken by the Eco Group including having ‘WaterAid’ fountains installed, being awarded Eco-School status, increasing the presence of recycling points around the school and being awarded ‘highly commended’ in the 2019 Golden Apple awards Best Community Initiative category.
Principal, Cherry Tingle said: “I am incredibly proud of the hard work and commitment demonstrated by the Eco Group and indeed, our whole school. Under Mrs Heslam’s guidance they’ve achieved so much and have changed attitudes about the environment, giving our young people hope for a more sustainable future.”
