The document outlines the 7 steps of the EkoSkola Programme, which is an environmental program for schools. The 7 steps are: forming an environmental committee of students, teachers and others; conducting an environmental review of the school; creating an action plan to address issues; monitoring progress; integrating environmental education into the curriculum; informing and involving the community; and creating an eco-code for the school. Schools can apply for bronze, silver or green flag awards based on achieving goals in their action plans and implementing the 7 steps of the program.

1. The EkoSkola Programme The 7 Steps

2. Environmental Review Action Plan Monitoring & Evaluation Curriculum Work Informing & Involving Eco Code Eco Schools Committee

3. The committee is the core of the EkoSkola process, responsible for organising and directing activities. Consisting of the stakeholders of the school community (pupils, teachers, cleaners, caretakers, parents and governors), the committee is democratic and run by the students themselves. Whatever the type of school or age group, student involvement in the committee is essential. EkoSkola Committee

4. Work begins with an environmental audit of the environmental impact of the school with the aim of identifying issues for action. Pupils are involved in this work ranging from assessing the level of litter on school grounds to checking the building for inefficiencies such as leaky taps or electric equipment left overnight. Environmental Review

5. Target Areas for Environmental Review Energy Water Cleaning Consumer patterns Waste management Paper usage Vandalism Biodiversity Animal rights Climate change Nutrition patterns Healthy lifestyles Transport Road safety Landscaping Buildings Cultural heritage Leisure facilities

6. Environmental Review Results

7. Environmental Review Results

8. Environmental Review Results

9. The information from the environmental review is used to identify priorities and create an action plan The Action Plan sets realistic targets and deadlines to improve environmental performance on specific issues. Schools should aim to achieve >75% of the results of their stated action plan. Action Plan

10. Action Plan (an example)

11. Ensures that progress towards targets and any necessary changes to the action plan are made and that achievement is recognised. It also ensures that environmental education is an on-going process in the school. Monitoring & Evaluation

12. Classroom study of themes such as energy, water and waste are undertaken by most students. The whole school should be involved in practical initiatives … e.g. saving water, recycling materials and preventing litter. Where environmental education is not part of the national curriculum, recommendations are made as to how these themes can be incorporated. Curriculum Work

13. Schools are encouraged to interact with the wider community when preparing action plans. As local authorities, businesses and the wider community are involved, Local Agenda 21 is brought directly into schools. An awareness raising programme keeps the school and community informed of progress through classroom displays, school assemblies and press coverage. Informing & Involving

14. Outreaching process Local community EkoSkola families EkoSkola EkoSkola Committee

15. Active EkoSkola notice board

16. Exhibitions of students’ work

17. Addressing the whole school about EkoSkola related issues during school assemblies

18. EkoSkola featured in school’s main calendar events (e.g. parents’ day, prize days)

19. Articles in the local press

20. Involvement of local authorities … … and local businesses

21. Participation at parliament

22. Each school produces its own code setting out what the students are striving to achieve. The Eco-Code is displayed in various places within the school and is recognised by the students as a statement of beliefs and intents. Eco-Code

24. A school that implements the seven steps of the programme can apply for one of the three EkoSkola awards: a bronze certificate, a silver certificate or a Green Flag … depending on how much it has achieved. The Green Flag award is renewed every two years. The Awards

25. The school need s to demonstrate that it has: appl ied the 7 steps of the EkoSkola process . achieved and given evidence that at least 2/3 of the objectives in the Action Plan were achieved. used an active communication strategy, to inform the whole school community of its activities. It should not be a programme for the EkoSkola Committee only. involved in some capacity the Local Authority(ies) – a required element of Local Agenda 21. addressed the core EkoSkola themes (i.e. Water, Energy and Waste … and now Climate Change and Carbon Footprint ). school established networking links or contacts with local and foreign Eco-Schools Basic qualification criteria