RATIONALE

Prestwich Arts College is committed to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and encourage, at all levels, an awareness of environmental issues. We will actively seek ways to support the protection and improvement of our environment both within school and in the wider community.

AIMS

To reduce the scourge of litter and unwanted rubbish

To maintain areas of green site

To maintain the inside of buildings so that they are clean and visually pleasing

To conserving the use of all forms of energy about the site

To prevent and reduce, where possible, wear, tear and damage to buildings, contents and land

To encourage the recycling of materials and substance

To establish a sound curriculum framework of teaching ESD

To supporting whole school initiatives linked to ESD

PRACTICES

Roles and Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of all those who occupy the site of Prestwich Arts College to honour this policy.

All teachers should encourage students to take such action as to enact the principles of the policy.

All students should be aware of, and should uphold the policy.

This policy should advise school managers (Teacher Managers and Governors); in their decision-making and in prioritising spending.

All visitors to the site are bound by this policy.

This policy is supportive of, and in answer to the Environmental Protection Act (1990), in which we have a statutory duty to maintain the site (as a category 8 Zone) to grade B standard.

Environmental Practice

All students will be reminded of the need not to drop litter and could be asked to pick up litter by a member of staff. All staff (including the catering staff) will encourage students to keep the site clean, within the dining room, and also in corridors and outside, particularly when on duty. Litter/recycling bins will be placed at appropriate points about the site and regularly emptied. Notices will remind public users of the sports fields that animal faeces should be removed. Whenever the site falls below grade B standard action will be taken within 24 hours to restore site cleanliness.

Grounds will be maintained to the standard described in (1). Unsightly areas will be improved by cutting back or removing growths. Grassed areas will be cut regularly; in bad weather students will be encouraged not to use grassed areas that they be preserved. The school will continue to investigate replanting and landscaping in order to improve all areas of the school site according to ESD principles, including also the inside of buildings by use of displays and redecoration.

Staff and students will ensure that, when not in use, lights and taps are turned off, heaters turned off (or thermostats turned down) in warm areas, and use of electricity is kept to a minimum. The Business & Resource Team and Site Management staff will continue to investigate energy saving schemes, and will seek to reduce the amount of energy used about the site, whilst maintaining the environment to a level as determined by the Factories Act (1992). Such strategies the school has implemented are listed below:

Installation of a 25kw Solar PV system with feed-in tariff
Rolling programme of replacing old light fittings with energy efficient LED

Rolling programme of emergency lighting installation replacing existing fittings with energy efficient LED

Rolling programme of external lighting installation replacing existing fittings with energy efficient LED
Rolling programme of boiler installations replacing existing with high energy efficient models.

All students have responsibility to respect the site, buildings and contents, to seek to avoid unnecessary damage, for their safety and the safety of others. When detected graffiti will be removed and repairs to damage made good, as soon as is practically possible; those who seek to cause damage will be appropriately punished and will be asked to pay for the cost of repairs. Health & Safety is of paramount concern, and in accordance with these principles the site will be regularly inspected and causes for concern scheduled for action.

The school will continue to investigate the possibility of supporting recycling schemes on-site. Some substances used in lessons are also recycled and unwanted substances disposed of safely. Purchasing will be influenced by the desire to purchase recycled products, where this does not compromise the requirements of the school, in terms of quality or cost.

All students will be encouraged to develop a personal responsibility for the quality of the environment through the delivery of Environmental Awareness and ESD, this will be delivered through Citizenship and Geography National Curriculum PoS, and through other areas of the school whenever possible.

All students will be encouraged to use transport to and from school that is in accord with the principles of ESD. This includes discouraging the use of the car for transport, and the parking of these cars outside the school (for safety reasons). The use of bikes to be encouraged, for which facilities for safe storage during the school day are provided on the school site.

Students will be given opportunities to contribute to the continuing development of the site, and aiding in the promotion of ESD issues both within the school, and encouraging greater awareness in the wider community.

Prepared by:MrG T Newman, Deputy Head Teacher (Curriculum)

Mrs L Ash, Director of Business

Date Reviewed:June 2013

Date Reviewed:June 2016

Next Review Date : June 2019

Signed:Mr C C Hornby, Head Teacher

Signed: ______Mr R Austin, Chair of Governors