The enormous enthusiasm with which Withington’s team of Eco-warriors embraced a number of key environmental projects has been rewarded by the School gaining Green Flag status.

The group, comprising representatives from Third to Upper Fourth Form and Sixth Form, plus the whole of Upper II under the guidance of Dr Cristina Vilela and Mrs Joanna Howling, met weekly to identify and implement a number of initiatives that raised awareness of environmental issues.

Highlighting important eco-issues

The group have been responsible for encouraging recycling and monitoring the number of lights left on in school. They have tried to tackle food waste and are discouraging the drinking of bottled water by introducing school water bottles. They even have their own vegetable plot.

The Eco-Warriors Noticeboard

Furthermore, some projects are included within the curriculum, such as the planting of tree saplings in Junior Science, Geography coursework on energy efficiency and staging an Upper Fourth MasterChef competition in FTT, highlighting local and seasonal ingredients to cut down ‘food miles’.