An annual event, Green Britain Day is a focal point for people to take action towards a more sustainable lifestyle. The landmark initiative aims to inspire the nation to work together and lower the UK’s carbon footprint by the time the Olympic and Paralympic Games arrive in London in 2012. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing humankind and EDF Energy believes that we can only tackle the issues we face by ensuring that all of us act together now.

Pupils at our school took part in a ‘Leaf Pledge’ activity. A pledge stating specifically how one would help the environment was written on a paper leaf. The leaves were then used to make a ‘Pledge Tree’. Lessons on sustainability and climate change were also taught throughout the day.

At Great Barr School, we endeavour to work together to achieve our ’sustainability’ goals.

A groups of dedicated members of staff have set up a Sustainability Working Party which meets regularly to discuss ideas for new initiatives around school.  The party believes that sustainability cannot be ‘top-down’ initiative. Rather it it must involve a joint effort from all stake-holders; pupils, parents, and teachers alike.

Swapping Books for Sustainability!

At Great Barr we encourage sustainability in all aspects . . . Being the largest school in the UK with over 300 staff, it became apparent that we can make much use of old items, particularly books and magazines! To maximise the sharing of these, we set up a ‘book-swap-meet’.

At the side of our main staff room, is a box to put old books/magazines in. Staff who desire old books or magazines simply help themselves to the books, and make a donation, or just place their own books in the box instead. This means that books are never thrown away, (thereby saving paper), and all donations go to charity!

At Great Barr, we endeavour to demonstrate sustainability on our school site.

One crucial aspect of sustainability is water conservation. Why?

Did you know:

• Water is not as abundant in England and Wales as you would think. We only have 1,334 cubic metres (m³) per person a year – much less than France (3,065 m³) or even the hotter Mediterranean countries of Italy (2,785 m³) and Spain (2,775 m³).
• Water shortages don’t just affect us: they can also seriously harm our environment. Our water comes from rivers and groundwater so every drop we use has a direct effect on the environment.
• Fish, wetland birds and other wildlife that rely on ponds, rivers and streams struggle to survive when these dry up or run low. Sources of food and breeding sites for wildlife can be lost and fish can die through lack of oxygen.
• The average person in England and Wales uses 150 litres of water every day. Most of it is used for washing and toilet flushing, but it also includes drinking, cooking, car washing and watering the garden. We use almost 50% more water than 25 years ago, partly because of the use of power showers and other water using household appliances.

Water must be conserved!

Our dedicated site staff have set up water drums which lead to the roof of the green house; rainwater falling from these will then fill up the drums! This water can then be used to water the plants in the greenhouse!

At Great Barr, we aim to decrease our use of plastic, particularly plastic bottles.

The production of plastics involves the use of oil, which is non renewable. Plastics are non-biodegradable, so they take up space in landfill sites.

To help to end the problem of plastics, Great Barr has taken the initiative to sell aluminium water bottles. These only have to bought once, and can last a life time! They are good value for money, at only £1.50 each, and they encourage drinking water over unhealthy alternatives.

 At Great Barr, we aim to provide examples of sustainable waste management.

Food waste from technology lessons is not disposed of with other waste.

In technology, pupils are encouraged to place food waste in separate bins, and the contents of these are then emptied into the large composting bins in our school garden.

Here is a birds eye view of the bins.  Composting encourages the natural break down of food waste, thus less space is taken up in landfill sites.

  Great Barr is a 10:10 school!

This means that in 2o1o we want to reduce our carbon emissions by 10%.

At Great Barr, we encourage staff and pupils to switch off electrical appliances when not in use, try to use daylight rather than artificial lighting where possible, and much much more!

From February onwards, we will be comparing our monthly electricity bill, with the same month for the previous year and we will be aiming for a 10% reduction . . . Go Great Barr!

Our pupils are keen to be involved!

Our Star Eco-Warrior

In October 09,  a pupil with a vision entered a competition . . .

Adam Potter, (left) entered the sustainable communities competition entirely alone, (it was advised by the board that this be done in groups of 6).

The task was to design a sustainable communty. Adam presented his ideas in a portfolio, including models, pictures, and sound bytes.  When Adam made it to the final 4, in a national competition, he was required to orally present his ideas to a board of executives.

For most of us, this would be a very nerve racking experience, but Adam confidently boarded the train to London and gave an enthusiastic presentation. The judges were very impressed, Adam, who executed this task alone, despite it being advised as a group task, made it to the final 4 of this national competition. Congratulations Adam!

 Congratulations Adam!

At Great Barr we aim to reduce, reuse and recycle!

Why?

We want to do our part to prevent climate change. Trees are essential in reducing carbon dioxide levels. Saving paper is saving trees, and recycling paper reduces the number of trees cut down to make paper.

Our pupils are key players in our recycling system;  Each week pupils carry a bag of paper from their form rooms to a drop off point where it is collected by our dedicated site team.  .  . Reduce, Reuse and finally . . . RECYCLE!

As an aspiring sustainable school, we always aim to reduce, re-use and recycle.  Sometime we like to have fun in the process!

At Great Barr School, we decided to spice up our Christmas by creating a Christmas board! In order to cut down on waste produced by Christmas cards, we designed a board which all staff could sign and write their Christmas wishes!

And what’s more, many staff donated the money which they would have spent on Christmas cards, to Birmingham Childrens Hospital . . . so not only did we do our part to prevent climate change, we helped our neighbors also . . . Sustainable schools here we come!!