Green Schools Overview

What is Green Schools?

Green – Schools is a long – term programme that introduces participants (students, teachers, parents and the wider community) to the concept of an environmental management system. It fosters a strong sense of citizenship and leadership among participants that spreads far outside the school into the wider community. It promotes a strong sense of teamwork among teachers, students and the wider community to reach a common high level goal. It brings children into the decision - making process and makes them responsible for their decisions and actions.

The aim of Green – Schools is to increase students and participants awareness of environmental issues through classroom studies and to transfer this knowledge into positive environmental action in the school and also in the wider community. Schools that have successfully completed all elements of the programme are awarded the ‘Green Flag’. This award has to be renewed every two years.


The Green Schools Programme is based on Seven Steps

1. Green Schools Committee
This directs the school’s involvement in the programme. Ideally, the committee includes students, teachers, non –teaching staff, management and parents.

2. Environmental Review
A process of examining the school’s environmental impacts in order to identify targets for action and improvement.

3. Action Plan
This gives specific and achievable targets with proposed completion dates that will show real success.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation
Constant monitoring of the programme ensures that progress towards targets is checked, amendments made where necessary and success celebrated.

5. Curriculum Work
Curriculum materials are provided that give ideas on how to integrate environmental issues into lessons.

6. Informing and Involving
A publicity programme keeps the school and the wider community involved and informed through displays, assemblies and press coverage

7. Green Code
This is a statement of the school’s commitment to environmental good habits.