Girls’ school flying the flag for North

Jul 14 2009 by Amy Hunt, The Journal

A SCHOOL in Newcastle is flying the flag for eco-friendly efforts. Pupils at the Junior House at Westfield School for Girls in Gosforth are celebrating achieving Green Flag status for their environmental work.

Westfield is the only independent school in the city to hold the prestigious award. Westfield’s Green Flag status was awarded by the Eco-Schools international award programme through Newcastle City Council’s EnviroSchools programme, which aims to promote protecting the environment in schools.

The school was awarded the status because of its many green incentives.

Planet-saving projects by the school have included a ban on plastic bags, the unveiling of new raised beds for fruit, vegetables and herbs and the installation of a ground source heat pump, believed to be one of the first to be fitted in the North East.

As part of their environmental studies at the school pupils learn about global warming and alternative energy solutions.

Pupils encourage wildlife within the school grounds and learn to switch off lights, computers and taps.

Margot Branson, head of the Junior House at Westfield, said: “The Green Flag status is a fantastic achievement for the school and a great reward for our environmental efforts.

“Eco awareness is certainly one of our main cross-curricular focuses at Westfield; we’re eager to raise awareness of how we can help to save our planet for all of our pupils, from nursery to Senior House. It’s such a pertinent topic and the Green Flag status takes us one step closer to becoming a truly green school.

“We have strong international links, through Round Square and, more recently, a British Council funded Comenius project. Many of our green activities have been carried out in cooperation with other schools in Germany and Turkey.”

Westfield was shortlisted in the sustainable school category at The Journal’s School Awards, which were presented last week, as well as the Times Educational Supplement awards. As runner-up in the Journal School Awards, the school received £250, which will be spent on further energy saving initiatives.

Stephen Savage, director of regulatory services and public protection at Newcastle City Council, said: “Congratulations to Westfield School’s Junior House on becoming the first independent school in the city of Newcastle to be awarded Green Flag status through the Eco Schools international environmental education programme.”