Falkirk has a dedicated Environmental Education Support Teacher, whose role it is to co-ordinate and support the development of schools as they work with specialist staff and participate in the Eco Schools programme.
Eco Schools
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Registered 68 (93%)
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Bronze Level 48 (66%)
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Silver Level 25 (34%)
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Green Flag 8 (11%)
The vast majority of Falkirk schools are now registered with the Eco Schools programme, with most working through the different levels of award very successfully. 8 schools, including 1 high school, 1 nursery, 1 special school and 5 primaries, have now achieved the Green Flag award, with Bankier and Carron Primaries on their second Green Flag.
Throughout the past term, many teachers attended twilight sessions on different Eco Schools topics, gaining expertise that they were able to take back to their respective schools.
In addition to the Environmental Education Support Teacher there are a number of other staff throughout different services of Falkirk Council who are available to help schools with general environmental issues as well as Eco Schools in particular.
Specialist Support Officers
Schools Waste Education Officer
Works closely with schools to maintain recycling infrastructure, develop waste-related educational activities and encourage waste minimisation by staff, pupils and their families.
School Travel Plan Officer
Helps schools to develop and implement green travel plans to reduce and manage the amount of schools related traffic.
Schools Litter Support Officer
Works with all schools and targets problem areas to reduce amount of pupil related litter whilst raising awareness of litter issues in the wider community.
Enterprise Officer
Supports schools enterprise projects and helps raise awareness of links between enterprise and environmental projects.
Biodiversity Officer
Offers support to schools with an interest in wildlife for school grounds, for example, gives advice about how to attract more wildlife to school gardens.
Landscape Architect
Supports schools interested in developing school grounds for wildlife.
Active Schools Co-ordinators
Promote healthy living through a variety of games and exercises.
Sustainably Designed Schools
Falkirk Council’s architectural service has been building sustainability into the design of a series of primary schools. Deanburn Primary School in Bo’ness benefited from passive lighting, a living roof and wind turbine. Sustainability is also featuring highly in the design of two new schools at Maddiston and North Larbert. Maddiston will benefit from higher levels of insulation (treated recycled paper), a timber frame and a ‘living roof’. North Larbert will aim to save energy by tapping into natural ventilation, natural light and wood from sustainable sources.
Breathing wall technology will be used for both to avoid "sick building syndrome". Both schools will also feature extensive use of locally sourced natural and recycled materials.
News
Schools Energy Challenge
Falkirk schools rose to the challenge of measuring and reducing energy use in Spring 2006. Scottish Power and Falkirk Council in Spring 2006 joined forces to challenge Falkirk schools to measure and reduce their energy use. One primary school emerged as the champion amongst the 47 local schools, using energy audits, art and drama projects to get the message across how the importance of saving money. They received first prize of an S Cube and £250.
Yellow Woods Challenge
Falkirk schools are in the midst of their third year of the Yellow Woods Challenge where schools compete to see which can collect the greatest number of copies of Yellow pages per pupil. Years 1 and 2 were won by Torwood Special School.
Falkirk’s Yellow pages are issued over the summer period so schools have to wait until September to find out who has won prizes of £500, £300 and £200 donated by Yell.
If you would like more details on anything contained within these pages please contact the Sustainable Development Officer.