Pupils at Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Coventry, have earned an international accreditation this academic year, recognising their amazing work in making their school and community more environmentally friendly and raising eco-awareness in fellow pupils.

Eco-Schools is an international education programme that prompts young people to explore sustainability and climate change and take action.

Pupils at Cardinal Newman collaborated with their Geography Department to conduct an environmental review, assessing how eco-friendly their school is.

They reviewed everything from the school’s recycling practices, to energy usage, to how environmental themes are covered in classrooms. Building on their findings, the pupils and staff planned a year of activities that would up their green credentials. The group connected their work to three Eco-Schools topics: energy, litter and school grounds.

Activities included creating a gardening group, litter picking and working in the local Peace Garden and Peace Orchard.

Rhys Davies, Eco-School co-ordinator, said: “The pupils have done a great job looking after their school environment not only within the school grounds with pupils gardening and litter picking, but also in their local community and the work they do in the Coventry Peace Orchard.

“Pupils have done a great job nurturing and maintaining this for generations to come. They should all be proud of the work they do to be effective stewards of their local environment.”

Kieron Hancocks, Year 10 pupil, added: “It has been great being involved in supporting the school environment and helping the school achieve Green Flag status.”

Eco-Schools England Manager, Adam Flint, said: “Earning an Eco-Schools Green Flag Award takes passion, commitment and a desire to make a difference. Pupils should be proud of their great work. They’re an inspiration and it makes us feel heartened and positive about the future of our planet.”

See examples of pupils' work

Find out more about Eco-Schools