Progress Report, March 2007

Recycling

Before Christmas, a group of sixth form students organised the collection of unwanted mobile phones for recycling. The response was excellent, raising £350 for eco-school projects. Since Christmas, they have had a second collection, this time in aid of Cystic Fibrosis. The group’s leader has contacted local primary schools to invite them to join in.

We are recycling more paper and the school now has a paper reduction policy with guidelines on photocopying, computer printing, etc. A group of mainly Year 10 pupils has worked on the day to day running of the paper recycling and has liaised with Rossendale Council. We now have a skip for cardboard and recycling bins for plastic bottles and cans. More skips and bins are on order.

Travel

We have completed and submitted a School Travel Plan and this should bring in a grant of £5 per student. Most of this will be spent on a shelter for the cycle racks. We are now encouraging pupils to cycle to school and will be running a competition with a travel to school theme. Helmets and lights are available to pupils at less than half the shop price, with funding from the School Travel Grant. We will produce a leaflet for pupils and parents about travel to school.

Energy

A group of year 11 pupils, under the guidance of Mrs Waddell, have been discussing energy saving ideas. “Switch Off” stickers have been put up in classrooms. We are looking into grants to install, as a demonstration, efficient lighting with light level and occupancy sensors in one classroom. We have also had discussions about a wind turbine.

Many classes now have a lighting monitor to try to reduce the unnecessary use of lights.

There is a lot of opportunity for energy saving in school and despite many suggestions being put forward, little has been done. Perhaps a sum should be ring-fenced for this type of work, as it always seems to be put to the bottom of the list of priorities. The School does have the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions as an aim in the School Development Plan.

School Grounds

With support from a Community Champions Grant, a new plantation of trees has been established on the slope below the all-weather pitch, complete with a new fence to keep out the sheep. This work has been done mainly by Year 10 pupils, but also members of staff, a former pupil and pupils from other years.

We have also prepared some ground for sowing wildflower seeds and further sowing will take place soon.

This term, in response to pupil suggestions, we are planning to grow some vegetables and have created two raised beds alongside the Clark Building. Staff and pupils from several year groups turned out at weekends to do this work. We hope it will raise awareness of our sources of food, contribute to the healthy lifestyles work, give pupils the chance to learn useful skills and encourage them to have a go in their own gardens.

A visit  from local wildlife expert Brian Oldfield has given us more ideas about encouraging biodiversity.

In the autumn term a lot of pupils on Duke of Edinburgh Award Service took part in activities in the community – in Rawtenstall with Civic Pride, in Haslingden with the cycle path charity Sustrans, in Ramsbottom at the Redisher Wood Nature Reserve and at the Lancashire Wildlife Trust reserve in Burnley.

Many thanks to all pupils, staff, governors and parents who have contributed.