Eco Schools
The Downs, Malvern College Prep has registered as an Eco-School. To achieve full accreditation we have to prove that we have minimised our environmental footprint by adopting school-wide measures to reduce waste. We must also promote green values by improving our use of resources and creating an environment in which biodiversity can flourish.
The Committee
Our Eco Schools team comprises a chairman and the school council pupil representatives from each year group. In addition we have three school staff and a parent representative. Measures already put in place include a whole school recycling scheme for paper, cardboard, metal, glass and plastic.
Recycling
We recycle all food, fruit and vegetable waste into compost and there is extensive use of birdfeeders and an evaluation of wild areas. We use energy saving devices on all new school projects and purchases. We recycle printer cartridges, mobile phones, old cooking oil and unwanted spectacles.
Grow our own
We are also extending the use of school gardens to allow more gardening plots and to grow more of our own food.
Lift sharing and our School Transport Service
We know that many parents already share lifts but feel it could be extended in our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint.
Since 2008 we have had to had a full travel plan in place and we are pleased with the response we have already had to our lift sharing initiative.
The school bus service has been launched and routes have be extended to help more families since the new school opened in September.
For more information regarding school transport
...click hereParental involvement
We encourage all parents to promote sound environmental values to their children by reducing waste at home and recycling as much as possible. The school's 'green stars' can be awarded to anyone who makes a positive contribution.
Expert advice
The school has now acquired some expertise through working with specialist waste management consultants and our own highly experienced gardeners. Our recycling worms have been mentioned on the BBC's News Round website