Boston West Primary School has been hailed as an exemplar Sustainable School. Headteacher Mike Schofield says, ‘We have bags full of passion, for our children and for the environment, recognising the importance of listening to them and then developing an environment in which they can find enjoyment and security.’
School grounds design: Hadley Learning Community © CABE / Dave Morris
Boston West is currently planning for a re-build, which will see an education and extended services centre housed on their school grounds. ‘Whilst our eco-work continues in all its forms and our carbon footprint reduces, a dream project is unfolding’, says Mike.
The aim of the new build is to create more space for the school to go forward. Boston West Primary has transformed from a failing school in 2000 to now being well over subscribed and is developing ways to make use of their school grounds and buildings.
Mike comments, ‘Our children are proud of their school and the environment that they have helped to create – as such they give the building and outdoor environment respect and care.’
Learning outside
The school’s ethos heavily focuses on developing student’s wellbeing. They achieve this through providing students with learning in and out of the classroom. Mike and his staff see their school grounds as another learning space for their students’ which helps to develop the whole child through learning by experience in different environments. Mike says, ‘We love using the environment, and learning through outdoor spaces. We think it’s right and it has enormous benefits for the children.’
The link between the students’ well being, using their school grounds and learning about sustainability and the environment works well for Boston West Primary School. Through this they can achieve quite a few educational agendas including, Every Child Matters, Learning Outside the Classroom, Sustainable Schools and Eco Schools.
The school runs an eco club, running various environmental projects including a recent art competition based on recycled materials. Their eco-code focuses on recycling, using the outdoor environment and monitoring energy use. Ground days are organised where parents and the local community get involved to develop the school grounds through small and big projects including the building of a pond.
Use your school grounds for learning: Everest Community College students using their grounds for drama © Dave Morris
Student voice
Mike comments, ‘Our work to develop the school grounds and the children’s wider understanding of environmental issues has been ongoing for years.’ Student voice is imperative for the direction the school is taking with environmental issues and their new build.
‘Children have constantly been at the heart of deciding where the school should be heading,’ Mike mentioned. ‘From the first day I walked into the school nine years ago as headteacher I have encouraged input and involvement from students.’
Bringing the two together – a new build and sustainability has proved to be a big project. Driven solely by the school, they have to seek their own funding for the build. They have developed a good relationship with a local architect, who grade 5 and 6 students worked with on a local schools design competition. They also have gained support from a contact in their school community, who creates enviro-barns. EnviroEng develop environmentally considered systems for homes and other builds.
The school council and students have been involved at all stages, including participating in the design and ideas for the use of the new build, where their feedback has been passed on to the architect.
Plans of the new build for Boston West Primary © Boston West Primary School
The new school build
The students are really enthusiastic about their new school building and can’t wait for the build to begin. When it does, the new build will open up opportunities for students to learn about building construction and how a building is made environmentally friendly.
Mike sees the new build as an invaluable learning opportunity for his students. ‘It’s in essence the whole education process, as they understand the building process and develop an awareness of buildings and sustainability, they will hopefully take this knowledge into their future.’
Mike continued, ‘They are the generation who have got the real job to do – to make these changes to put right the wrongs and clear the “mess” made by previous generations.’
Engaging Places will stay in touch with Boston West Primary School to keep you up to date with the progress of their build and how they continue to turn this opportunity into a fruitful learning experience.
For more information visit the Sustainable Schools – East Midlands website, which features a case study on Boston West as well as a range of other amazing school projects.
Engage your students in their local environment: Benwell Nature Park, Newcastle © Newcastle City Council
Get your students involved in sustainability
There has never been a more important time for young people to learn about sustainable living. Here are some of the ways that your school can take part and get involved in sustainable development.
Green Day activity kit
Full of easy to apply activities for all subjects with a focus on key stage 2 and 3. This activity kit provides ideas, activities and resources for holding a green day in your school, making it a more sustainable place in which to work, play and learn. It can also be used to develop lessons all throughout the year.
. (Developed by CABE)
Sustainable learning programme
An energy and water management programme, which helps schools reduce their consumption. In 2009 all schools will be required to display an energy performance certificate. Sustainable Learning supports a whole school approach and provides resources, links and case studies to show how your school can take control of energy and water use and reduce the schools’ environmental impact.
Go to the sustainable learning website. (Developed by Eco Schools)
The carbon detectives’ kit
The carbon detectives’ kit is a fun online tool designed to help students calculate their school’s carbon footprint and learn how it could be reduced.
Go to the carbon detectives’ kit. (Developed by DCSF)
The pod for greener schools website
Schools can share examples of best practice in sustainable learning and join other schools to celebrate success, by taking part in the pod for greener schools. By 2012, the pod will reach 2.5 million young people.
Go to the pod for greener schools website. (Developed by LOCOG)
