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Pupils celebrate platinum status


Pupils at Ysgol Dinas Brân have proven their green credentials after being awarded a top eco award.

Ysgol Dinas Brân have been awarded the prestigious Platinum Flag Award after previously gaining three Green Flag Awards thanks to the environmental education programme, Eco-Schools.

Eco-Schools is an international programme run in Wales by environmental charity, Keep Wales Tidy and funded by the Welsh Government.

The Eco-Schools programme inspires and empowers pupils to be leaders of change in their community, helping them learn about sustainable living and global citizenship while giving them the information and support they need to make changes that will benefit their school, local environment and wider community, such as reducing waste, energy consumption, transport, biodiversity, healthy living and litter issues.

As part of their Eco-Schools Platinum assessment, Ysgol Dinas Brân held a Great Big Green Week with a range of activities based around the environment and sustainability. In English classes the students recorded a speech starting with "How dare you!" linked to Greta Thunberg's work. In Science students studied green technology and green energy systems including a study of the output generated by our solar panels (we were off grid for some days). In Geography students carried out studies of our local flora and fauna. They built bug hotels and our technology department made bird boxes to encourage some species into nesting next year. In Geography and Art the students entered into a postcard and poster competition to encourage better energy saving habits. The posters were produced in different languages to reflect the global issue of climate change. The school restaurant also got involved by looking at how far the food has travelled and relating this to reducing the school's carbon footprint. The student Eco Committee was fully involved in the organising and delivering of this week. The students also met with our political representatives Simon Baines MP, MS Ken Skates and North Wales MS Lyr Gruffudd to raise the student voice in the build up to the COP 26 conference. The Eco Committee have also been running other Eco programmes and they have some more exciting plans for the coming year!

Andrew Wallis, said:

“I would like to thank all the staff and students involved in the Eco Schools programme, and in particular the Great Big Green Week, for the work they have done which has enabled us to win this award. Equally, I would like to thank both the Headteacher Mark Hatch and our Business Manager Jamie Roberts, for the investment they have made into making the school more sustainable and decreasing our carbon footprint, with the instillation of the solar panels project. ”

Catrin Hughes, Education Officer for Keep Wales Tidy said:

“The Platinum Flag is a very impressive achievement and highlights the enthusiasm and commitment that Ysgol Dinas Brân has towards sustainable development. The dedication of the Eco-Committee over many years has been inspirational. I’d like to congratulate and thank all of the pupils and staff involved for their hard work!”

For more information on the Eco-Schools programme, visit www.keepwalestidy.org/eco-schools

Mr Hatch explaining the solar panels project to our political representatives and to our primary school cluster Headteachers.

Students completing a Flora and Fauna survey as part of a Geography project started during the Great Big Green Week.