Green Academy

Ormiston Victory Academy Eco-Council

At Victory Academy we pride ourselves in being a “Green” Academy. We care passionately for our environment on both a local and national basis and have a superb Eco-council, which works hard on environmental issues. Our Eco-council has now been awarded the prestigious Green Flag which now flies proudly near the main gate. We regularly report to Victory Governors on the progress of our Green activities.

 

Eco Council Action Plan

Topic	Action	Target / Measure	Timescale / Deadline	Responsibility	Evaluation of action / Actual result achieved
Litter	Victory Community service litter pick	Litter picks led by pastoral managers with students in seclusion	April 2017 - ongoing	DAL/PRO	Noticeable reduction in litter blown against fences by the wind – litter picks focus on boundaries
	Litter promotion posters (designed by eco-council)	Increased visibility of litter issues around Academy	September 2017	Eco Council	Litter posters are displayed in prominent places around academy and on Eco-notice board
	Increase in number of bins in field (near football pitch)	Reduction in litter on Academy playing fields	April 2018	DAL/TSM	Noticeable reduction in litter on playing fields which was previously a problem, especially on windy days!
	Eco-council assembly	Focus on litter reduction/recycling (& marine plastic pollution)	December 2018	DAL/Eco Council

 

Topic	Action	Target / Measure	Timescale / Deadline	Responsibility	Evaluation of action / Actual result achieved
Energy	Christmas holiday complete closure of academy to reduce energy consumption	Reduction in energy used in Dec 2017 & 2018 compared with Nov 2017 & 2018	Dec 2017 - Ongoing	TSM/Site	Saving of 2733.8 units of electricity which equated to a saving of £308.61 (for winter 2017)
	Energy monitoring alert system installed	General monitoring of energy usage throughout Academy and alerts when spike in consumption	Ongoing	TSM/Site
	Earth Hour (1 hour switch off day before at school & banner on website/adverts on screens)	Raised awareness of International Campaign and also within the academy the day before	March 2018	DAL/Eco Council
	Automatic light switch off in new building	Zero lighting left on in unattended areas	Ongoing	ICT Services
	Automatic computer/projector switch off	Zero computers left on overnight	Ongoing	ICT Services

 

Topic	Action	Target / Measure	Timescale / Deadline	Responsibility	Evaluation of action / Actual result achieved
Recycling	New textiles bank (Income generating)	Textiles now able to be recycled and income generated for Eco Council	Ongoing	DAL	Money raised to date £
	Battery Recycling (now includes site team)	Batteries continue to be recycled (now including those used by site team)	Ongoing	DAL/Eco council
	Recycling bins in all classrooms and offices (paper, card, drinks bottles & cans)	All classrooms and offices have and utilised recycling bins for paper, card, plastic bottles & cans	Ongoing	DAL/Eco council
	Ink Cartridge Recycling	Reduction in ink cartridges thrown into general waste (only inkjet qualify)	Ongoing	DAL/Eco council
	Bra Recycling	Bra recycling point for Academy and local community – Bras raising money for breast cancer research and distributed to developing countries	April 2017 ongoing	DAL/Eco council
	Coffee refills Recycling	Reduction in coffee refills entering landfill & useful products made instead	Ongoing	DAL/Eco council
	New Book recycling (book swap in community room and main entrance)	Old books are recycled by Academy staff, 6th formers and members of local community/visitors	Ongoing	DAL/Eco council
	New bra recycling for developing countries	Collection of old bras to donate women in developing countries	Ongoing	DAL
	Christmas present shop (recycling unwanted presents) in community fridge container	Unwanted Christmas presents brought in and students to cash in reward points to buy family Christmas presents	Dec 2018	VLF	TBC – new project for Christmas
	Stamp recycling	Stamps collected to raise money for “Count the Kicks” charity	Ongoing	DAL/Eco council
	Second hand school uniform stand at parent’s evenings/open evenings	Increase in usage of second hand uniform – reduction in textile waste	Sept 2018	TSM
	Eco-bricks project – Art & DT	Reduction in amount of plastic going into landfill both at school & staff and student homes – production of eco-bricks and use in Art/DT project	Nov 2018 - ongoing	RMI

 

Topic	Action	Target / Measure	Timescale / Deadline	Responsibility	Evaluation of action / Actual result achieved
School Grounds & Biodiversity	New Year 6/7 playground	Year 6/7 playground installed – additional seating and fence	Sept 2018	PRO	New playground provides quieter area for younger students to enjoy school grounds
	Planting of new shrubs around carpark area	Additional shrubs planted in the new car park borders – increase in biodiversity	Sept 2017	Site
	Year 8 horse chestnut saplings science project	All Year 8 students in FDOs class given horse chestnut sapling to nurture	April 2018	DAL/FDO
	Year 6 yarn bombing transition project	Enhancing school grounds via tree wrapping project for year 6s	July 2018	RMI/DAL
	Bee friendly plants in containers on Science balcony	Increase in biodiversity specifically tailored to increasing bee population	Ongoing	DAL/SQU
	Development of gardening provision in St George’s house to include use of allotment and students cooking produce		Sept 2018	ACK
	Bee friendly plants in containers on Science balcony	Increase in biodiversity specifically tailored to increasing bee population	March 2016	DAL/Gardening club
	Year 6 transition wildlife day	Provide opportunities for year 6 students to enjoy new experiences in the area of wildlife such as handling snakes, owls, bugs, pond dipping, owl pellet dissection etc	July 2017 - ongoing	DAL

 

Topic	Action	Target / Measure	Timescale / Deadline	Responsibility	Evaluation of action / Actual result achieved
Waste	Composting	Increase in green materials being composted and used to fertilise allotment	July 2017	ACK/Gardening club
	Waste bin audit	Highlighting areas of higher need for waste bins in order to reduce litter	September 2018	Eco council	Student council and Eco council requested increased number of bins on playing field – 6 additional bins were purchased resulting in visibly reduced amount of litter on fields

 

Topic	Action	Target / Measure	Timescale / Deadline	Responsibility	Evaluation of action / Actual result achieved
Transport	Staff and student transport survey – produce display of how students and staff get to school	Raise awareness of greener ways to travel and provide an audit of how staff and students travel	Dec 2018	DAL/Eco council
	Improvement in student bike sheds to encourage more students to cycle to school	Increased number of student cycling to school	Sept 2017	Site/TSM	Increased number of students cycling to school and additional enquiries from parents about whether this is possible for their children

 

Topic	Action	Target / Measure	Timescale / Deadline	Responsibility	Evaluation of action / Actual result achieved
Water	Water saving ideas in Academy	Reduction in tap water used around Academy grounds	Sept 2018	DAL/SQU/Site
	Switch off taps stickers by all twist taps (designed by eco-council)	Raised profile of the need to turn off taps and save water – reduction in taps left running – visible reminder	April 2017	Eco council	Switch off stickers are on all manual tap sinks around the academy to raise awareness
	Annual water audit	Measurement of difference in water used by manual tap usage or automatic tap shut off	Sept 2017	Eco council	In general manual taps (average use) produce less water than those with automatic shut off (provided used correctly and turned off)

 

Topic	Action	Target / Measure	Timescale / Deadline	Responsibility	Evaluation of action / Actual result achieved
Global Citizenship	Charity committee – wide variety of charities supported – student led eg. MacMillan Cancer, Children in Need, Christmas Sugar appeal (Norwich Foodbank), Christmas Hampers, Royal British Legion.	£10,000 target between 2016-2018	July 2016	DAL/HCU/Charity Committee	Over £5,000 was raised for student selected charities in the academic year 2017-18
	Links with schools in Italy, China, Spain, France & Germany	Increased opportunities for students to work alongside students from different countries and cultures	Ongoing	EBA/ACR
	Royal British Legion 100 years project including poppy run and “Muddy Choir” drama production	Raised awareness amongst students re: events and impact of 1st world war	October 2018	HBO	Every student in Academy took part in the sponsored Poppy Run and participated in the 1 min silence, raising £….. for RBL
	Citizenship Form time programme	Students demonstrate increased knowledge and understanding of British Values, Core Values of world religions and can critically examine, other people’s views and arguments and form their own balanced opinions.	Ongoing	DAL	New topics for 2016-18 have been honour based abuse (male and female), domestic violence, gambling and violence against women
	Christmas Sugar collection and additional food collection for local food banks	Local foodbanks and homeless charities supported in a practical way by donations of food	Dec 2017 - annual	Charity committee/HCU
	New 6th form volunteering project	All 6th form students to complete 10 hours volunteer work within Academy, 10 hours within community and minimum charity fundraising of £10	Launched Sept 2018	RTI
	Annual European Day of Languages Celebration	All departments to use date and starter activity in European language of their choice. Staff to wear traditional costumes if desired	Ongoing	EBA/MFL dept	Raised awareness of languages and cultural traditions among students

 

Topic	Action	Target / Measure	Timescale / Deadline	Responsibility	Evaluation of action / Actual result achieved
Healthy Living	Curriculum links (Science, SMSC, Catering)	Students more aware of how to keep themselves healthy and make healthier food choices in the canteen.	Ongoing	All	Map has been produced highlighting Eco links
	Healthy options in canteen		Ongoing	TSM/E&B
	Young Carers Tick quality award gained & Young Carer Charter developed	Raised awareness of the challenges Young Carers face	Sept 2017	DAL	Students and staff more aware of challenges YC face and YC themselves feel more supported through charter and enhanced profile
	Wide variety of physical activities offered through “Victory Adventures” enrichment programme – regular articles in Victory Flag	Students able to access a wide range of physical activities which will suit a variety of skill sets, ages and personalities.	Ongoing	DAL/KWE/MEA
	OAT Gold award for Enrichment	Gold award achieved – Audit in Oct 2018 shows we are on target for this	Jan 2019	DAL/KWE/MEA	Current tracking data shows 82% of students take part in enrichment of some kind. Impact studies highlight the positive benefits to both emotional well-being and academic achievement.
	Well-being and Schools award	15 month project results in improvements in Emotional Well-being and Mental Health provision for students and staff – includes staff, parents & students	July 2019	DAL
	Mental Health Champion Training	DAL to successfully complete 2 day training	November 2018	DAL	Completed

 

Topic	Action	Target / Measure	Timescale / Deadline	Responsibility	Evaluation of action / Actual result achieved
Whole school	Green Visa points introduced	Improved awareness of environmental responsibilities around Academy	Ongoing	VLR	Increased number of Eco visa points awarded by staff
	Follow up environmental review	Eco-council complete review and action points drawn up and actioned where possible	April 2017	DAL/Eco council	Environmental review was conducted by Eco-council and fed into key action points for Eco Action Plan 2016-18
	Eco-suggestion box	Student voice regarding green issues – students post suggestions and these are discussed in eco-council meetings and fed back via Baraza	Ongoing	DAL/Site
	Eco Link Governor	Conduit for Eco-council to liaise with Governing body – Eco reports presented to Governors at Extended Services meetings	Ongoing	DAL/NPA	Named Eco-Governor in post
	Baraza eco-council reps	Effective link between Eco-council and Academy council for suggestions and feedback. Scheduled environmental topics to be discussed in Baraza.	Ongoing	AWI	Environmental issues and Green concerns are regularly discussed during Baraza meetings and fed back to Eco-council
	Eco assembly	Raised awareness of the work of the Eco-council, key priorities, Earth Hour and action plan	December 2018	DAL	Green mission statements is on rear page of Academy commitment to environmental issues
	Green mission statement in prospectus	Increased profile of Green ethos of Academy immediately evident	Ongoing	DAL/NPA	prospectus to highlight
	Regular Green articles in Victory Flag		Sept 2015	DAL
	Launch of Eco-council twitter account @VictoryEco	Raised profile of commitment to Green issues and work of eco-council at Victory Academy	Dec 2018	DAL

 

Topic	Action	Target / Measure	Timescale / Deadline	Responsibility	Evaluation of action / Actual result achieved
Marine	Joint Eco-council beach clean with Year 11 Geography students	Raised awareness amongst students of marine plastic pollution and practical action to reduce this in locality	Dec 2018	DAL/EWI
	Production of plastic bottle recycling sculpture	Raised awareness of amount of plastic used which could end up in marine environment and increased amount of recycling of this product	Feb 2019	DAL/DT dept.

Eco Council Members

Our Eco Council currently consists of 14 students from Years 8 to 11 and is led by Dr Allen and Mr Gott.

Within the Eco Council team we have appointed 7 students officers for each key area including:

• Energy
• Transport
• Waste/Recycling
• Marine
• Litter
• Water
• School Grounds