What is Eco-Schools?

The Eco-Schools programme provides a simple, seven-step framework that empowers young people to make a difference in their school/nursery, local community, and beyond. Since 1994, millions of young people around the world have worked through the Eco-Schools Seven Steps before being recognised for their efforts with a prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag.

Settings connect their activities to three or more of the Ten Eco-Schools Topics. These topics break large, global issues like climate change into more manageable and directed themes that prompt young people to consider environmental changes that they can make in their school and everyday lives.

For further information on the Eco-Schools Seven Steps and how they are delivered, check out the Early Years or Schools section of our website. Please also take the time to register for free and login to our Eco-Schools portal, where you can also access our resources and apply for an Eco-Schools Green Flag.

After working through the seven Eco-Schools steps during the academic year, schools, colleges and nurseries can apply for an Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation during the annual application window, open from 1st May to 31st July.

As Keep Britain Tidy (the operators of Eco-Schools England) are a charity we charge schools £200+VAT when they apply for an Eco-Schools Green Flag. This fee covers:

• The cost of an Eco-Schools Green Flag (or plaque) and certificate that successful applicants receive.
• The cost of employing Eco-Schools Green Flag assessors, who provide bespoke feedback and recommendations on each application.
• The staff resources required to manage and oversee the Eco-Schools programme throughout the year.
• The cost of infrastructure including the Eco-Schools website, School?s Portal, and monthly newsletters.
• Ongoing investment in the Eco-Schools programme and its resources.

We offer group discounts to academy trusts, nursery chains, local authorities, and other organisations funding 10 or more Green Flag applications. Get in touch to find out more.

An Eco-Schools Green Flag is then valid for one academic year, before renewal is required to remain an Eco-Schools accredited Green Flag school, college, or nursery.

Schools renewing their Eco-Schools Green Flag are expected to build on their achievements from the previous academic year. The application process for those renewing accreditation is streamlined, the seven step criteria is slightly altered, and applicants can choose to receive a dated plaque instead of a new Eco-Schools Green Flag. The cost to renew an Eco-Schools Green Flag remains £200+VAT, though each year a 15% renewal discount can be secured by beginning an application and answering enough questions to obtain 30 points by midnight on 1st November.

Applying for Eco-Schools accreditation is the perfect way to acknowledge, reward and celebrate the ecological achievements of young people. It clearly demonstrates that their hard work is appreciated, and it provides them with the confidence and motivation needed to continue actively engaging with environmental issues throughout their lifetimes. It also tells local communities that a school, college, or nursery is forward-thinking and promotes youth-led environmental education and action.

If you?d like to know more about how the programme benefits both our environment and your young people, read through our annual Eco-Schools Impact Reports here.

The Eco-Schools team never want additional needs or disabilities to affect young people?s ability to engage with environmental actions and be rewarded for their engagement with an Eco-Schools Green Flag. We want the Eco-Schools programme to provide an accessible way for all young people to have a positive impact on the planet we inhabit, and we are proud to have multiple specialist settings currently flying an Eco-Schools Green Flag.

Everyone who works in education will be aware that each young person that attends a specialist setting is entirely unique. It would be unfair to ask these individuals to work towards a different set of criteria from other young people also working on the Eco-Schools programme. Instead, we are flexible with the delivery of the programme and adherence to our Seven Step criteria, after all, teachers and staff members know their students best. Our advice is always to adapt the programme to work for your school and young people and we will be delighted to recognise and reward your achievements.

We understand that each school is different and all schools face unique challenges. This is at the forefront of our minds when assessing each Green Flag application especially those from specialist schools.

If you still have questions about delivering the Eco-Schools programme in a specialist school, please do not hesitate to get in touch for advice and support.