Carrying out an environmental review

An Environmental Review (or audit) is designed to give a realistic picture of your school’s current environmental performance. It should tell you what you are doing well and what you might need to work on. The Environmental Review informs your Action Plan, helping your school to decide whether change is necessary and how urgently the changes are required.

Your school can choose whether or not to devise its own Environmental Review.
At Bronze level, a school can compose and carry out its own assessment and the results do not have to be recorded. This type of review is described as an informal review.

At Silver and Green Flag level, a school has to complete a formal review. This can be devised by the school but the results must be documented. If a school does not want to design its own formal review there are a number of examples available for download in the Links and Resources section of this website.

The Environmental Review should be designed and carried out by the pupils themselves. It should cover: litter; waste minimisation and recycling; energy; school grounds/biodiversity; water use; pupil activities; healthy living; transport; global perspective.

An Environmental Review could include a series of simple questions. Simple yes/no answers to each question may provide sufficient information but you may wish to use the Environmental Review to gain a greater understanding of the issues facing the school or include recommendations for action.

Questions to include in your Environmental Review may include:

• Is the school litter free?

• Does the school recycle cans, paper, computer cartridges, etc?

• Does the school use recycled paper in disposable materials such as paper towels?

• Are lights left on unnecessarily? Are there draughts around windows and doors? Are windows left open whilst the heating is on?

• Does the school avoid the use of aerosols in art lessons or by domestic staff?

• Does the school encourage walking or cycling to school?

• Do school grounds include areas of wildlife habitat other than those offered by grass on school fields?

• Do school toilets have water-saving devices fitted?

• Are environmental issues discussed in lessons or in assemblies, etc?

A number of organisations offer a ready-to-use Environmental Review that can be completed online or in hard copy. The Eco-Schools programme provides two examples of an Environmental Review form within the Links and Resources section of this website.

Whether you are devising your own Environmental Review or using an off-the-peg form, there are many opportunities to link this activity with the maths and science curriculum. Measuring, recording, estimating, displaying data, etc. can all be developed to meet National Curriculum targets, as well as contributing to Eco-Schools.

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