To find out whether or not you are successfully achieving the targets laid out in your Action Plan, you should monitor and measure your progress. As well as allowing you to judge the success of your activities and plan any necessary changes, a continuous monitoring process will help you to sustain interest in the programme throughout the school.
The methods of monitoring that you use will depend on the targets and measurement criteria set out in your Action Plan, as well as the age and ability of pupils, staff and helpers. You may wish to consider the following forms of monitoring:
At Green Flag level you will be expected to carry out a follow-up review. This is in effect a repeat of your original Environmental Review and you can use an identical questionnaire. Comparing the results of your original and follow-up review will reveal what progress has been made and help you plan your future environmental strategy.
The Action Team can identify progress towards achieving elements of the Action Plan.
The Action Team can identify progress towards achieving at least two elements of the Action Plan.
The Action Team can identify progress towards achieving most of the targets listed in the Action Plan and can produce physical evidence of data collection and analysis (graphs, etc.). The school must be able to identify substantial progress towards one large-scale project and indicate its involvement with two others. ‘Identify substantial progress’ means that the school has an understanding of the project topic, recognises its importance to sustainable development within the school environment and wider community and has implemented change.
