Eco Schools

Eco-Schools Some Ideas for Monitoring Progress In order to show environmental improvement, monitoring of the activities needs to be undertaken. This will enable pupils to determine if actions are generating progress, identify what’s working well and where there may be room for development. • What you monitor and how you undertake it will depend on the areas you are looking at, and the age and ability of the pupils. • Giving the pupils as much of the responsibility for data collection and analysis as possible will give them a greater sense of ownership for the project. • Much of the monitoring work can, and should, be undertaken through the curriculum. •

Litter •

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Count quantity of litter collected from school grounds Litter found on school grounds is plotted on a map Litter Surveys Where does litter come from? Who are the likely culprits? Has litter reduced?

Waste Minimisation • •

Count bags of paper recycled Record how many packs of paper used each month • Calculate potential recycling v actual recycling • Check paper is used both sides-lucky dip style • Amounts of rubbish produced before/ during/ after waste free lunch week • Counting other items recycled e.g. Ink cartridges/ mobile phones/ clothes/ yellow pages etc • Monitor the compost o Description of how it looks over time  Is it breaking down? o Is the ratio of matter going in correct? • School community survey: How many households recycle?

Energy • • •

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Meter Readings Energy produced by wind turbine/Solar panels Charts for checking: Computer monitors Lights Projectors School community survey: How many households leave TV on standby etc? Monitor classroom temperatures

Water •

Meter readings Tap check chart • Monitor water temperature • Survey of water use at home e.g. how many ensure tap is turned off when brushing teeth •

Transport •

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Survey of how we travel to school Monitor Walk to School Week year on year Compare possible travel methods against actual travel habits Calculate carbon emissions produced on school run

Healthy Living • • • • •

Healthy snack survey Fruit tuck shop sales Exercise record cards Record of incidents on the playground Cyclometer/ pedometer data for staff & pupils

School Grounds • • •

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Minibeast numbers before/after wildlife area construction Wildlife diversity survey Bird survey- tie in with RSPB Bird Count Before/after photos Opinion questionnaires Success of veg garden e.g. what grew well, changes for next season Monitoring health and growth of planted trees e.g. diameter measurement

Global Citizenship Calculating individuals’ or the school’s global footprint Comparisons with link schools in other countries e.g. are we as good as Denmark at recycling? • Survey of foods used in kitchen & calculate food miles • Fairtrade questionnaire- how many households buy Fairtrade items • Monitor the schools charitable contributions etc. • Monitor frequency of contact with link schools e.g. have we been keeping in touch recently? • •