PUPILS have helped Goostrey Primary School retain its environmentally-friendly award for a third time.

The Main Road school focused on energy, waste, school grounds, biodiversity, transport, healthy living and global citizenship over the past two years in order to renew its ENCAMS-managed Eco-Schools Green Flag status.

Twelve children at the school in Main Road form an eco-committee, along with adult staff members, and take part in a number of energy-saving initiatives from ‘switch off fortnight’ to ‘environment day’.

Lyndsey Atkins, headteacher, said: “Renewing our Eco-Schools Green Flag award yet again is something that the whole school and its surrounding community is very proud of.

“Each pupil knows that their actions have significantly altered their local environment.

“It has been a fantastic initiative for all involved, but it is by no means over, as the greater challenge is to maintain what we have achieved so far, look towards ways of improving even further and gain our fourth Green Flag in two years’ time.”

An important factor in achieving Green Flag status is ensuring the work with the environment translates into the curriculum, with Goostrey pupils impressing assessors with their ‘eco-homes’ made from rubbish.

The assessor also watched the children’s eco-rap, and heard about their participation in Walk to School Wednesdays, car-free Fridays and bikeability sessions.

The school garden area grows fruit and vegetables, with some incorporated into school dinners, and work with Cheshire Wildlife Trust and the RHS contributes to other ongoing projects.

Patti Pinto, an eco-schools assessor and eco coordinator for Congleton Eco-Schools, said: “I am delighted that Goostrey has been awarded their third Green Flag by Eco-Schools.

“I have been working with the school for five years to enhance biodiversity in their grounds and to help them progress from silver to Green Flag status.

“They have worked so hard and are an excellent example of what can be achieved when everyone works together to become more sustainable.

“The children are amazing, full of ideas and are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their eco projects.”

For more, visit goostrey.cheshire.sch.uk.