Northgate High School, has been awarded the Eco Champion Mark in recognition of the work the school has delivered through its ‘War on Plastics’ campaign.
The school earned the mark for its impressive work in enlisting the wider community to support its successful pen and crisp packet recycling initiatives, as well as its Bottle Free Friday scheme for the school canteen amongst other projects.
Led by the School Council, the campaigns have enlisted feeder primary schools, library, council offices and even a local supermarket – as well as all the pupils at the high school. The impact has been considerable with over 110kg of pens and over 107kg of crisp packets recycled this year. Income raised from the recycling will support the school’s chosen charity of Cancer Research UK.
The School Council’s new Bottle Free Friday scheme aims to cut the sale of 9,000 plastic bottles over the year and encourage students to use reusable drinking bottles.
EcoChampion spokesman Simon Dolby said, ‘The enthusiasm and passion of the School Council has created community momentum for its pen and crisp packet recycling schemes, as well as generating real change in the dining hall on the school site to cut use of plastics. The school thoroughly deserves Eco Champion status and pupils and staff should be commended for the impact they have delivered.’
Mr Dolby, commented, ‘I have been involved in student-led green projects, both as a judge as an administrator for different initiatives over the last two decades and I can say that this was one of the stronger nominations I have seen.  Top 10 per cent!’
Miss Theobald, School Council Coordinator, who entered the school’s application said, ‘I couldn’t be more proud of the time and effort the School’s Environment Team and School Council put into these eco projects. They are passionate about doing everything they can to not only reduce plastic waste and be more environmentally conscious, but also to educate others on how they can have a positive impact too. They have plenty of ideas in the pipeline for future projects so I’m sure this recognition will spur them on even more.’
Northgate’s entry will now go forward to a judging panel which will select a number of national winners later in the year.
Find out more about Eco Champions visit their website here.
***** It has also just been announced that Northgate has been shortlisted in the Eco Secondary School category at the Norwich and Norfolk Eco Awards. Due to take place at St Andrews Hall in March, our project has been judged by a panel as either highly commended or the winning project. Can we go one step further than last year’s highly commended award and be crowned winners for 2020 – keep your fingers crossed! *****
