The Themes of Eco Schools

Water

Water is vital for life. It has many uses, for example drinking, washing, in agriculture and industry. Our demand for water has now reached a point where the natural water cycle can no longer keep up.

We pay water companies to manage, treat and distribute our water in order to meet our demands. This costs an average school £2,500 per year. Effectively managing water use and educating people about its careful use can cut a school's water consumption by up to two thirds.

Bio Diversity

Biodiversity describes the huge variety of plants, birds and animals on earth, the habitats in which they live and the interactions between them.

Biodiversity impacts on our lives in many ways, for example in providing food and medicines and recycling waste and nutrients. People enjoy nature and all species have as much moral right to exist as humans do.

Unfortunately a lot of human activities have a negative impact upon biodiversity, with species and habitat areas being lost due to urban development, intensive farming and pollution.

School grounds provide an ideal opportunity to introduce children to biodiversity.

Energy

The amount of energy we use to power our homes, schools and businesses has increased dramatically over recent decades. To keep up with this demand, our power stations burn more and more fossil fuels, releasing millions of tonnes of the climate change causing gas, carbon dioxide.

In schools, energy is used for heating, lighting, running appliances like computers and providing hot water. The amount used varies from school to school, depending on how effectively energy is managed. Schools can introduce measures to reduce their energy use, carbon dioxide emissions and fuel bills.

Global Perspective

To participate fully as members of our global society, children need the necessary knowledge, skills, values and attitudes. They will need to engage in the global dimension of topics that affect them, like global warming, migration and product prices.

As part of the Global Perspectives topic, children should consider the environmental, social and economic impacts of the choices they make, on the local and global community, now and in the future.

Healthy Living

The state of our health is related to our physical wellbeing, emotional and social factors. Our health and educational attainment are clearly related.

Schools are key settings where the health and wellbeing of children and young people can be promoted; for example by providing a supportive environment, healthy school meal options and opportunities for physical activities.

Litter

Litter can be described as waste in the wrong place. Rather than being put in a bin, the waste may be left on the pavement, park or school grounds.

Many schools have some sort of litter problem. This can be dangerous and demoralising, as well as creating complaints and a bad impression. All state funded schools have responsibilities to make sure their grounds are kept free of litter and could face a fine if they don't.

School Grounds

School grounds can significantly impact upon pupils' attitudes and behaviour. The grounds can be used to support what is taught in the classroom, e.g. about recycling and composting, native wildlife and organic gardening. For children to be able to learn outside, the grounds need to be carefully developed and managed.

Transport

Our growing use of cars has caused a range of different problems, including increased air pollution and traffic congestion. As car use increases and walking and cycling decreases, the resulting lack of exercise can lead to health and fitness problems. The number of children being driven to school has increased over recent years.

Walking or cycling to school instead has many benefits, providing opportunities for physical activity, making friends, gaining confidence, increasing independence and traffic sense.

Waste

Waste is what people throw away because they no longer need it or want it. The amount of waste we produce in the UK is increasing all the time. Most of our waste ends up in landfill sites (holes in the ground). However, these are becoming full and there are concerns about their environmental impacts.

There are alternatives to throwing our waste away. People are advised to take the following steps, in order of preference:

REDUCE the amount of waste we produce.

REUSE goods and products as much as possible.

RECYCLE waste so it is turned into other useful products.