Marches School Eco-School Project

Marches EcoSchool project

update March 2023

We have some exciting opportunities and funding this year – come along if you’re interested even if it’s just to see what we do!

(Last year we did a lot of work with the Eco dome and bird boxes, hedgehog houses, planting and looking after the pond and the ecogarden – amongst other amazing things! We are planning to have some Eco craft days this year too!

Action Plan: Biodiversity Eco-Schools Topic Biodiversity

Aim To increase the biodiversity on the Marches School grounds.

Action Duration 1. Continue to provide habitats and September 2022 – July 2023 food to support bird species by regularly filling bird feeders.

2. Work with Shropshire Wildlife Trust as part the Green Influencers Scheme to improve our pond for invertebrates.

3. Plant hedgerow trees to provide food and habitats for birds and insect species.

Informing & Involving Plans 4. Plant wildflowers and pollinator • School newsletter friendly plants, as part of Operation • Facebook Pollination.

• Oswestry Advertiser 5. Take part in the RSPB’s Big Schools’ • Oswestry Life magazine Birdwatch (January).

• Estates Team 6. Work with Estates and Trust staff • Oswestry Town Council volunteers to mend, clean and • Shropshire Wildlife Trust develop Eco Dome as outdoor • Shropshire Council Tree Scheme learning area.

• Woodland Trust Tree Scheme 7. Start to investigate opportunities • Border Rotary Club for a green roof / wall as pilot for biodiversity, insulation and climate adaptation.

Monitoring Method Eco Garden species count undertaken in July 2022. This will be repeated in July 2023.

Whole school grounds species count.

RSPB Big Schools’ Bird Watch.

Wildlife cameras installed by SWT.

Final Evaluation • 1000 hedgerow trees planted.

• Wildflower seedballs planted = • Bird feeders installed • Newts • Hedgehog house installed.

• Eco Garden species spotted • RSPB Bird Watch spotted (last year)

Action Plan: Waste and Litter Eco-Schools Topic Waste and Litter

Aim To reduce the amount of waste from the Marches School site.

Action Duration 1. To ensure that every classroom has September 2022 – July 2023 a paper recycling box and provide a label for it.

2. Continue working with the Estates Team to investigate the installation of recycling bins and collection contract. Informing & Involving Plans 3. To promote the use of recycled • School newsletter paper.

• Facebook 4. To investigate the recycling of crisp • Academy Trust newsletter packets and turn them into blankets • Oswestry Life magazine for homeless people.

• Oswestry Advertiser newspaper 5. To investigate the use of composting • Estates Team of school food waste with OsNosh.

• British Ironworks Centre 6. Promote tips on reducing waste and • OsNosh charity recycling through the School Newsletter and Facebook.

7. Take part in the Keep Britain Tidy Great Big School Clean in 2023.

8. Undertake at least one litter pick within the community (Oswestry) in the summer 2023.

Monitoring Method Ask the Estates Manager to provide access to the waste collection data.

Final Evaluation • Paper recycling tip provided for summer 2022.

• Waste contract ..

• X% of paper used is recycled.

• X% of food waste composted.

• Recycling bins • Crisp packets collected • Homeless blankets made • Community litter pick (bags collected)

Action Plan: Energy Eco-Schools Topic Energy

Aim To reduce the Marches School’s energy consumption.

Action Duration 1. Produce posters to encourage staff September 2022 – July 2023 ad students to turn off lights, monitors, whiteboards and heaters.

2. Work with Estates to identify where we can use energy saving devices, including draught excluders.

Informing & Involving Plans 3. Work with the Trust (Shropshire • School newsletter Council and Zero Carbon Shropshire) • Facebook to investigate opportunities for • Academy Trust newsletter renewable energy sources (e.g. solar • Oswestry Life magazine panels).

• Oswestry Advertiser 4. Identify student Energy Monitors to • Estates Team celebrate classrooms and teachers • Shropshire County Council who are saving energy.

• Zero Carbon Shropshire 5. Share energy saving tips from students and staff through the School Newsletter.

Monitoring Method Ask the Estates Manager to provide access to the energy consumption data.

Final Evaluation • Energy consumption in 2021-2 = • Energy consumption in 2022-3 =

Increasing biodiversity ✓ Bird feeders, hedgehog house ✓ Planted 1000 hedgerow trees which support diverse mammals, birds and insects ✓ Planting hanging baskets (Oswestry in Bloom Awards) ✓ Working with Shropshire Wildlife Trust as part the Green Influencers Scheme to improve our pond for invertebrates (with £350 grant + possible £5000 grant) ✓ Taking part in RSPB’s Big Schools Birdwatch (not done this year) ✓ Work with Estates and Trust staff volunteers to mend, clean and develop Eco Dome as outdoor learning area (‘Give back project’) o Plan to plant wildflowers in Year 7 Zone and Eco Garden, as part of commitment to Operation Pollination o Start to investigate opportunities for a green roof / wall as pilot for biodiversity, insulation and climate adaptation.

Reducing waste ✓ Paper and plastic recycling boxes in each classroom ✓ All students should bring reusable water bottles ✓ Change of waste contract to include recycling – AR Richards ✓ Use of recycled paper ✓ Paper recycled ✓ Recycling of crisp packets (Coral the Fish project) ✓ Food: Locally source food, ‘take what you need’ message, reduce packaging (including no plastic bottle) ✓ Centralised stationary purchasing to reduce waste and transport of deliveries ✓ Investigate the use of composting of school food waste with OsNosh (through Student Voice group) with Taylor Shaw caterers o Promote tips on reducing waste and recycling through the School Newsletter and Facebook. o Water butts planned for Eco Garden area o Take part in the Keep Britain Tidy Great Big School Clean in March 2023. o Undertake at least one litter pick within the community (Oswestry) in the summer 2023.

Reducing energy consumption ✓ Stickers around school to remind staff and students to close doors and turn switches off.

✓ Thermal zoning - closure of classrooms to reduce energy use. ✓ Switch Off Day – 23rd March 2023 ✓ Insulation – e.g. Sixth Form building ✓ Switch to LED lighting including gym (with DfE funding) ✓ Working with Solar Coop to investigate solar for Trust buildings. o Identify student Energy Monitors to celebrate classrooms and teachers who are saving energy.

o Share energy saving tips from students and staff through the School Newsletter.

Eco Schools application ✓ Eco-Committee formed ✓ Environmental Review conducted ✓ Action Plan agreed for this year

✓ Curriculum links identified (but wider review needed) ✓Informing and Involving – evidence completed ✓ Monitoring and Evaluation – data required

✓ Eco-Code needs drafting – align with Trust Sustainability Policy (where has this got to?)

Deadline is 31 July 2023 + £200+VAT

Aim

2022

2023

2025 & 2030

1. Education

Build into ECF Training for teachers through NPQ Review curriculum

Share curriculum resources National National Education Nature Park Climate Leaders Award

New build net zero schools Best trained and supported teachers

2. Green skills and careers

Apprenticeships Roll out T levels HTGs from Sept 2022

Level 4-6 courses Careers through commercial progs

Graduates of Climate Leaders Award Improve STEM uptake

3. The education estate

Net zero new build Energy Pod Project trial BEIS decarbonization fund + smart meters Support transition to electric vehicles Bikeability, Walk to School, School Streets Work with EA and GA on flood risk

Climate action plans (2025) Weather and emergency plans (2025) Minimise building design barriers (2030) Support implementation of Climate Action Plans

4. Operations & supply chain

Embed sustainability in DfE Food waste and sustainable meals Make Period Products scheme greener

Suppliers (over £5m) need to commit to Net Zero by 2050 and publish Carbon Reduction Plan (2025) Embed sustainability in procurement (2025)

marchesschool.co.uk