Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction
Pupil leadership recognised in national environmental award
St Christopher Junior School has been awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction for 2025, celebrating the thoughtful environmental work led by pupils and supported across the whole community. Guided by Eco-Schools Coordinator Lydia Somerville, this recognition reflects the dedication, curiosity and determination of our young people, whose ideas and actions have shaped real change throughout the year.
Pupil-led, community-supported
Two Eco Councils are elected each year, with representatives from every class in Years 1 to 6. Around 24 children take part annually, all bringing fresh thinking and a clear desire to make a difference. Their leadership sits at the heart of the Eco-Schools framework, and this award highlights the strength of their voice and the way the whole school works alongside them.
How we achieved the Green Flag
To earn the Green Flag with Distinction, schools must show both meaningful pupil involvement and sustained impact across at least three focus areas. Our pupils selected:
- Grounds & Biodiversity – Pupils helped develop outdoor learning spaces and nurture wildlife habitats, including the planting of eight new apple trees in the Junior School orchard. Working with the Grounds team and Forest School, children monitored and cared for these young trees, guiding younger pupils in understanding how outdoor environments can thrive.
- Waste – Children took the lead in improving recycling and reducing unnecessary waste. At the start of the year they launched a campaign to cut down food waste in the dining hall, speaking in assemblies, refining the way waste is sorted, and supporting one another to minimise what is thrown away. Catering staff offered regular insights, helping pupils track the difference their efforts were making.
- Global Citizenship – Following a review led by the Eco Council, staffrooms and school events now use Fairtrade tea and coffee. Pupils also engaged with the Fairtrade choices already visible in the dining hall, linking these everyday items to wider conversations about ethical decision-making and global responsibility.
Throughout the year, pupils led assemblies, ran campaigns, collaborated with staff and gathered data to track progress. Their work became part of daily life at St Chris, reflecting a shared responsibility for the world we live in.
What the distinction signifies
Receiving the Green Flag with Distinction affirms the depth of the pupils’ involvement and the real, measurable impact of their projects. It recognises their leadership and the way they have encouraged one another to be thoughtful, active contributors within our school and beyond.
Most importantly, it celebrates their belief that small actions, taken consistently and together can shape meaningful change. This award is a testament to their care for the environment, their persistence and their forward-looking approach to making a positive difference.
