MCS earns Eco-Schools Green Flag Award with Distinction

After a year of dedicated effort, MCS pupils have earned an Eco-Schools Green Flag Award with Distinction, a nationally-recognised accreditation highlighting the school’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

In their review of our submission, the Eco-Schools Committee reserved particular praise for the school’s active Environmental Club. The Club, comprising enthusiastic volunteers and ably led by our pupil Co-Chairs, is supported by  Sustainability Lead and Teacher of Chemistry, Mrs Lydia Wainwright. In response to the news, she said “Special thanks to the pupils who have worked tirelessly throughout the year: Tom Hartley, Wilf Archibald, Sidra Malik, Voula Stavropoulou, Judd Bayona, and our inspiring Co-Chairs Sasha Lodh and Oscar Archibald. Without their ideas and energy, none of this would have happened!”

An Environmental Review of the MCS site, completed by the Club, impressed the Committee as it proved effective in helping pupils identify issues and spot gaps in our existing environmental activity (at the same time as it helped us recognise ‘the great work’ we are already doing!) The Committee also appreciated our Action Plan, which ‘shows that your Eco-Committee [the Club] have carefully considered how they can involve their entire school in their planned Eco-Schools’ activities to achieve maximum impacts and raise awareness amongst their school community.’

The wide range of activities in our Delivery Plan was considered a strong point. From classroom-based initiatives, such as Biodiversity Week and Earth Day, to outdoor activities including increasing the number of recycling bins, making seed bombs and promoting ‘No Mow May‘, each action was designed to make a difference. Accountability measures were also in place, ensuring every project was tracked effectively, and the Club noticeboard effectively showcased the initiatives. The Committee noted that they ‘loved seeing how active the Club was in communicating their activities school-wide with both assembly and class feedback’ and commended pupils for ‘taking their great work beyond the school gates and into the community’ by taking part in local events like the Big Birdwatch and Oxford Schools Sustainability Network.

In closing, the Eco-Schools Committee wrote “Congratulations to everyone for the great work you have managed to do, earning your Green Flag with Distinction in style. You should all be very proud of your work and the application you have submitted!”

Very well done to all those involved!