Students at an Oldham school have been awarded the internationally recognised Eco-Schools Green Flag award, after their ‘amazing’ efforts in making their school more eco-friendly.

Students at Hathershaw College formed an ‘eco-committee,’ and then conducted an environmental review of the school, looking at where improvements could be made.

Jamelia Raza, a member of the eco-committee, said: “Even if I can’t make a big difference, I want to at least contribute a bit to help with climate change and global warming.”

The Eco-Schools programme began in 1994, and more than one million pupils attended an eco-accredited school between 2022-23.

The programme runs in schools in over 70 countries, and it costs £200 plus VAT to apply for the award.

The Oldham Times:

The pupils, with the help of Hathershaw College Sustainability Lead Lisa Lott, looked at everything from the levels of biodiversity seen on the school site to how teachers and pupils make their way to school each day.

The committee and Mrs Lott then created a plan to improve the school’s eco-friendly credentials, and improve the local environment, over the course of the next year.

The plans of the eco-committee was linked to three of the Eco-Schools programme’s topics: Global Citizenship, Biodiversity and Energy.

The pupils then set to work, writing to local MPs about recycling and waste practices, creating posters to remind pupils and teachers to save energy, and raising money for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Mrs Lott said: “The students had some amazing ideas and are clearly very passionate about protecting the planet.

“They have worked so hard on all of the actions we set ourselves.”

The England manager of the Eco-Schools programme, Adam Flint, said: “The pupils and school staff that earn the award deserve immense credit for their hard work, determination, and creativity.

“Their passion for protecting our planet is an inspiration to us all.”