Eco-Schools

Eco-Schools is the largest global sustainable schools programme.

Eco-Schools encourages young people to engage in their environment by allowing them the opportunity to actively protect it. It starts in the classroom, it expands to the school and eventually fosters change in the community at large.

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Overview

HundrED has selected this innovation to

Updated May 2023

Web presence

1994

Established

19M 2024

96

Countries

Other

Target group

We would like to see ESD and quality climate education integrated into curricula around the world, to ensure that teachers have the required skills and time to engage their students in hands-on, project-based learning addressing relevant environmental challenges. The ability to mitigate and adapt to climate change will only become more and more critical - Eco-Schools acknowledges this!

About the innovation

Hands-on, experiential learning through Seven Steps

The Eco-Schools programme is based on a Seven-Step methodology, which allows for project-based, experiential learning, focused on positive sustainable actions.

The Seven Step methodology is a series of carefully engineered measures to help schools maximise the success of their Eco-School ambitions. The method involves a wide diversity of individuals from the school community - with students playing a primary role in the process. One of the most important aspects of the Eco-Schools program is the uniqueness of each school's journey. The Seven Steps fits around each school in their individual context, creating a different experience for every school that particpates. Some key points about the individual steps are below.

Step 1: Forming an Eco Committee. The Eco-Schools Committee is the driving force behind the Eco-Schools process and represents the ideas of the whole school.
2: Environmental Review. This helps the school to identify its current environmental impact and highlights areas for improvement.
3: Action Plan. Results from the environmental review are used to design the Action Plan, forming the core of student action.
4: Monitor & Evaluate. This is carried out find out if the targets set by the action plan are being achieved.
5: Curriculum Work. Eco-Schools activities are linked to the curriculum, ensuring Eco-Schools is truly integrated within the school community.
6: Inform & Involve. This involves getting everyone on board! Actions are not solely confined to the school community but are encouraged to engage community members and parents, for example.
7: Eco Code. Students collaborate to devise a statement that represents the school's commitment to the environment.

The Green Flag

After two years of implementing the programme and establishing a high level of commitment to the Seven Steps, schools can apply for Green Flag status through a process that includes a series of visits and assessments.

FEE EcoCampus

Tertiary education is also included within the Eco-Schools movement. Driven by students, university faculty staff are encouraged to particpate in the FEE EcoCampus. Established in Russia in 2003, and the first whole institution Green Flag was awarded in Ireland in 2010. Eco-Schools therefore extends from K-12 Education to Further and Higher Education.

Find out more here.

Impact & scalability

Impact & Scalability

The innovation is scalable and has already demonstrated its effectiveness to many countries. The seven step methodology is a series of carefully engineered measures to help schools maximise the success of their Eco-School ambitions. This method involves a wide diversity of individuals from the school community - with students playing a primary role in the process.

HundrED Academy/Advisory Board Reviews

The innovation involves students project-based, experimental learning which is itself a great approach to learning. Moreover, the objective of the innovation is itself an important one where students from their early grades involve in protecting the planet.

I love the fact that each school owns its unique journey all the while enjoying the guidance of the 7 points. Integrating environmental work with curriculum work is also a good idea, as is involving the community, developing a school eco-code and recognizing schools for their hard work.

- Academy/Advisory Board member

Academy/Advisory review results

Impact

Scalability

Exceptional

High

Moderate

Limited

Insufficient

Exceptional

High

Moderate

Limited

Insufficient

Media

Running Out of Time

Eco-Schools Project for Advancing Circular Economy (E-SPACE)

Litter Less Campaign

Warming-Waste-Water-Watts-Wildlife (W5

Eco-Schools’ Seven Steps Methodology

Implementation steps

Reach out to an Eco-Schools National Operator

Contact one of our National Operators, to find out how you can register with the programme and receive all the necessary resources to get you started!

Find themhere: www.ecoschools.global/national-offices

Form an Eco Committee

The Eco Committee

Is student-led

The Eco Committee ensures that the entire school knows about Eco-Schools and will receive regular updates

Composition can be: Students/Teachers/The Principal/Non-Teaching Staff (e.g. Secretary, Caretaker, Cleaner)/Parents/Members of the Board of Management/interested and relevant members of the wider community

The Eco Committee meets regularly to discuss environmental actions for the school

Carry out an Environmental Review

The aim is to investigate the environmental issues in the school/community

An annual review of main themes is encouraged. The school is free to choose other areas of environmental concern that are more relevant to its needs.

Community involvement in the review is also encouraged. This can include the wider school community as well as members outside of the school community.

The results of the Environmental Review inform the action that students will take, known as the Action Plan

Develop an Action Plan

Use the Environmental Review to identify the priority areas in your school. To keep it manageable we suggest focusing on not more than three Themes at a time.

Create an Action Plan to resolve or improve those problems. It should include: the necessary tasks, the people responsible and time frame for actions in order to achieve your goals/targets

Make your action plan SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely)

As with every aspect of the Eco-Schools process, pupils should be involved as much as possible in the drawing up of the Action Plan

Monitor & Evaluate

As always, pupils should be given the responsibility for carrying out monitoring activities wherever possible

Results of monitoring should be regularly updated and displayed for the whole school to see

The monitoring methods that you use will depend on the targets and measurement criteria decided on in your Action Plan for the topics you wish to look at and the age and ability of the pupils and other individuals who carry it out

Evaluation follows on from monitoring. Evaluating the success of your activities will allow you to make changes to your Action Plan if required

Link to the Curriculum

Integrating the programme into the curriculum can be done, either directly through science, civics and environmental classes or indirectly in other subject areas through innovative teaching

Pupils from throughout the school should gain an understanding of how real life environmental issues are dealt with in a real life setting

Inform & Involve

It is essential that the whole school is involved in, and the wider community aware of, the schools’ Eco-Schools programme.

Means of information provision and public relations to tell about their work can include school assemblies, school notice boards, school newsletters and websites, school plays, dramas and fashion shows based on environmental issues, letters to businesses and corporations, local and national press, radio and television, etc.

Global Action Days

Produce an Eco Code

It should be memorable and familiar to everyone in the school

The format is flexible, it can be a song, drawing, model, poem, etc.

The Eco-Code should list the main objectives of your Action Plan

It is crucial that pupils play a key role in the development of the Eco Code, as this will give them a greater sense of responsibility towards the values the Eco Code represents

The content of the Eco Code should be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that it continues to reflect the school's ecological aims and targets

The Eco Code should be prominently displayed throughout the school

Apply for a Green Flag

Usually after two years of implementing the programme and reaching a high level of performance in complying with these Seven Steps, schools can apply for and be awarded the Green Flag. It is the National Operator of Eco-Schools that carries out the assessment.