WestbrookHay PreparatorySch

Schoolof the Eco-SchoolsYear2022

We are delighted to announce that Westbrook Hay has been named Eco Primary School of the Year for 2022 by Eco-Schools England.

The highest accolade

This is an absolutely fantastic recognition for all the work carried out by the children and staff in aiming to become a more sustainable school. This is the highest accolade that could have been achieved.

In 2019 Head of Geography, Mr Ndau, formed a committee at the school comprising teachers and children aged 5-13 who are passionate about making a difference to the environment and helping the school to become more sustainable. Dovetailing one of the school’s strategic aims, the Eco Warriors were established with a clear remit to look at everything that could be improved –nothing was out of bounds!

Mr Ndau set a target for the school to be a ‘green flag’ Eco School, which required the team to implement many initiatives throughout the years. The school successfully was awarded the Green Flag award in 2022, but also with distinction! Some of the initiatives are listed below:

• The school regularly holds Switch Off weeks where the staff are encouraged to teach their lessons without the need for their Interactive White Boards, switch lights off when not needed, and reduce the amount of power used in the kitchens. The school often reduces the use of electricity during these weeks by about 20%.

• We set up recycling of school materials in all the classrooms –this has reduced the amount of non-recyclable rubbish significantly.

• One of the sustainable after school clubs is the gardening club which utilises the school allotment. The aim is not just to teach the children techniques in the garden, but also to grow food for the pupils and staff to eat. The club erected a Poly Tunnel, reducing the number of pests and improving the harvest.

• Planting of trees – the school planted an orchard, selecting trees that were hardy and every year, to recognise our children who are leaving, the school plants a tree.

• Other areas of recycling have been introduced involving the families, for instance print cartridges and batteries.

• The school employs a catering company who pride themselves on their commitment to being sustainable using local suppliers to reduce the food miles and the waste produced at the school.

• The school is also working to achieve its Modeshift Silver Accreditation by reducing the number of cars travelling to school.

• The school operates two shuttle buses from nearby locations free of charge for parents who normally travel with only one child at the school.

• Another minibus route is also available from the nearby town of Berkhamsted.

• Walking to school is encouraged with regular walk to school weeks where parents and children are shown some lovely safe routes to walk to school. These are particularly well supported.

• For parents who do use their cars to travel to school, we encourage electric vehicles by offering charging points and we encourage no idling in the car parks.