Ross schools play part in rollout of 'green' agenda
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ROSS-SHIRE pupils are playing their part in the roll-out of a ‘green’ agenda in schools across the Highlands.
Highland Council today announced it had reached a “significant milestone” in efforts to promote a more sustainable way of life in schools it runs.
All 218 schools in Highland have now gained a Bronze Eco-award or greater. The Scottish average is 71 per cent.
The news comes 48 hours after the local authority announced it would be shutting down turbines located at 16 schools across its area until safety concerns have been addressed.
Eco-Schools is an international sustainable development award scheme which engages young people in the environment, sustainability, global citizenship and the value of a low carbon future.
The aim is to make environmental awareness and action integral to the school ethos for pupils and staff, and to engage the wider community. For the Bronze award s chools must choose three topics from the following ten: litter, waste, energy, water, health and wellbeing, transport, biodiversity, school grounds, sustaining our world, food and the environment.
The local authority says 37 per cent of Highland schools have attained the highest award of Green Flag status, in line with the Scottish average.
Malina MacDonald, the Council’s sustainable development officer, said: “All Highland schools attaining at least a Bronze eco-school award is a real milestone for sustainable development education in Highland. This could not have been possible without the continued enthusiasm and support from Highland Council teaching staff, Quality Improvement staff and Countryside Rangers.
“Helping pupils appreciate that our local actions affect the environment and people globally is such an important task and everyone involved should be congratulated.”
