Primary School Scoops Highest Eco Flag Status

Pupils and staff at Rhydri Primary School are celebrating after receiving Platinum Flag status. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The eco-schools green flag awards recognise a school’s efforts to become environmentally friendly. Schools are asked to establish an eco-committee whilst developing projects to teach the importance of looking after the environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To achieve their flag, Rhydri Primary proposed a number of initiatives to continue and improve their status as an eco-friendly school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Many of the initiatives looked at how bills such as energy and water could be decreased as well as how to promote a healthy lunchbox. Children were also taught the importance of the different recycling bins and where their waste belongs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Biodiversity and wildlife also became a part of their curriculum since designing and building the school’s new vegetable garden. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Paul Warren, Head Teacher said, “The school is delighted to have achieved the Eco-Schools Platinum ‘Green Flag’ award. This is particularly relevant because Rhydri Primary School is a small village school in the heart of a rural community. Congratulations to the children for their hard work and strong commitment to the local environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Sustainable Development said, “What a great achievement to be awarded the Platinum Flag. The flag recognises the school’s ongoing commitment to be known as environmentally friendly and it is pleasing to see the children are continuing to be taught the importance of the environment and sustainability. I am sure all the staff and pupils who put in a lot of hard work to receive this are extremely proud, congratulations.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​