“What makes this award feel so special is that it was all led by the children”

Staff and children at Fatfield Academy are celebrating after being awarded the national Green Flag award for promoting conservation and sustainability at their school.

Fatfield Academy pupils give a big thumbs up to their Green Flag award. | Iconic

placeholder image — Fatfield Academy pupils give a big thumbs up to their Green Flag award. | Iconic

To achieve accreditation, the school’s Eco-warriors chose to work on the key areas of improving biodiversity, making the school’s ground more environmentally friendly, and tackling the issue of litter both in school and the wider community.

Year 5 teacher and Geography lead Kirsten Stoker said: “What makes this award feel so special is that it was all led by the children. They helped to design the new pond we have in school to improve our biodiversity as well as creating bug hotels, bird boxes and hedgehog tunnels in our Forest School.

Pupils Reuben Hird and Monica Sashkov point out the bug hotel in the Forest School. | Iconic

“The children also took part in litter picks both here in school and around St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay. The children also took part in the RSPB’s (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) survey to identify and count the number of different bird species seen in our school grounds.

“The award recognises that we are a sustainable school and it’s really important for children to learn about the importance of looking after the environment as they are our future.”

Children from the Early Years through to Year 6 have contributed to the project.

Pupils helped to design the school pond. Year 5 teacher Kirsten Stoker. | Iconic

To achieve the award, children must follow a seven step pathway to empower pupils to make an environmental difference to wildlife and the natural environment in their school.

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Year 3 pupil Reuben Hird, 7, said: “It’s important to look after our wildlife so that animals don’t become extinct. I’m really proud we have got the Green Flag award.”

It was a sentiment shared by Year 5 pupil Francesca Cobains, 9, who said: “I really enjoy being an Eco-warrior as you get to go to lots of different places and pick up litter. We have to keep the animals safe so they can live long lives.

“I’m very proud we got the Green Flag award.”

Year 6 pupil Jude Hill, 10, added: “I enjoyed the litter picking and it’s important not to throw away litter as it can kill the animals.”