St Josephs National School, Hilltown, Ballymitty, Co. Wexford.

This years theme is 'Travel'
The journey to school is an ideal way for children to take part in regular physical activity, to interact with their peers, and to develop the road sense children need as pedestrians and cyclists.
<<< Click here to view our guide to 'safe to school' including the safe cross code >>>

Green-Schools is an international environmental education programme and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges long-term, whole-school action for the environment

Seven Steps & Themes

The programme is based on a 'seven step' system for continual improvement

One of the key success factors of the Green-Schools program is that it is a themed programme. That is, schools undertaking the programme work through the seven steps one theme at a time. The themes in sequence are:

1. Litter & Waste

2. Energy

3. Water

4. Travel

Therefore, for a school to be working on the energy theme they must have completed the seven steps for litter & waste and achieved their Green-Flag. For a school to be working on water they would have to have gone through the seven steps with energy and renewed their Green-Flag and so on.

The use of themes helps prevent schools from trying to deal with every aspect of their environment at once which could be overwhelming. Furthermore, it allows schools to build on their experience, expertise and best practice as they work from theme to theme. However, as schools work from theme to theme they will realise that there is quite a bit of overlap between the themes (e.g. recycling waste is great way of using less energy and water to produce new products).

Litter & Waste is the first theme that schools undertaking the Green-Schools programme work on.

In an Irish context litter and waste are substantial environmental issues. Each year Local Authorities spend ten's of millions of euros cleaning up the environment due to our individual and collective behaviour and lack of responsibilty towards litter. Over the last 15-20 years Ireland's waste production has increased 100%. Up until recently most of this waste (>90%) was landfilled. However, it appears that things are starting to improve particulalrly in schools undertaking the Green-Schools programme.

Energy is the second theme that schools undertake during the Green-Schools programme.

Fossil fuels, the source of much of our energy, are formed under intense pressure and heat over millions of years from the buried remains of plants and animals. By burning these fossil fuels to release heat from the chemical energy they contain, steam can be raised in a power station boiler. The heat and pressure energy in the steam is turned into work in a turbine, which drives a generator to produce electricity.

However, there are certain steps we can take to start on our way to reducing our energy consumption at home and in school. Energy surveys are a great way to identify the amount of energy used in the school, and can highlight areas where changes and improvements can be made. There are many simple low and no-cost tips that can be carried out to increase efficient use of energy.

Water is the third theme for schools undertaking the Green-Schools programme.

Most of us are guilty to some extent of taking water for granted. Water comes out of taps; it goes down drains; and in between we use it to brush our teeth or do the dishes. However, saving water is not just about saving money. Water is an important resource and a sufficient supply of clean water is essential to the health of both people and the environment. All of our food production and agriculture needs water. The raw material may appear to be plentiful, but worldwide, and even in parts of Ireland (particularly at certain times of year), it is an increasingly scarce resource.

Travel is the fourth theme in the Green-Schools programme.

The Travel theme is currently in it's second year of National Roll Out. The programme is supported by the Department of Transport.

As part of their Action Plan, participating schools will set their own Travel targets, with the ultimate aim of increasing the number of pupils walking, cycling or using public transport, which will ease congestion by reducing the number of private cars arriving at the school gates.

By promoting sustainable transport modes (walking, cycling, car pooling or public transport), the schools will also improve pupils' safety, health and fitness. The journey to school is an ideal way for children to take part in regular physical activity, to interact with their peers, and to develop the road sense children need as pedestrians and cyclists. Alternative modes of transport also improve children's alertness, with 90% of teachers surveyed across England & Wales saying that walking, cycling or using public transport increased pupils' concentration levels in class. The schools will also lessen their overall impact on the environment, by reducing emissions and pollution.

There are four steps to tackling the themes

1. Analyse the problem 2. Devise an action plan 3. Measuring success 4. Maintenance

The Green-Schools programme is based on seven steps. These steps are outlined in the chart below. The most important aspect for schools to remember is that every school is different and it is therefore critical that a school fits the seven steps around its circumstances and situation and NOT try and fit the school into the seven steps.

The difference between try and triumph is a little umph. ~Author Unknown