Shawlands Academy
Teaching Awards 2008 Winner
The DfE Award for Sustainable Schools
Shawlands Academy, Glasgow
It started with humble beginnings such as a litter strategy and recycling. But over the last few years, the sustainability curriculum has flourished and now underpins everything that happens at Shawlands Academy.
Three years ago, the school set up an international project: “How to be an active citizen in a clean Europe” with partner schools in France, Cyprus and Sweden, involving all areas of the curriculum. Since then, it has added health promotion, environmental visits and a travel plan to its many policies. Children eat their lunch in picnic areas around the school, and most cycle or walk to school. To conserve energy, sensors control the lighting system and the toilets.
The school recycled over 885 kg of paper and plastic bottles last year, as well as mobile phones and ink cartridges. Unwanted shoes are donated to Africa. An 8ft tall statue of Medusa in the school foyer, made entirely from recycled material, reminds everyone of the school’s ethos.
Pupils have worked with the Countryside Rangers to plant more than 1,000 trees, and the school’s award-winning play “Litterhitters” was translated and performed in French. Links have been established with schools in countries as diverse as South Africa, India and Lebanon. One of its most ambitious projects was organising the Eco Conference in June 2007, an exciting cross-curricular exhibition based on enterprise, citizenship and international education.
When asked by judges why the school had no wind turbines, pupils responded that they preferred to focus on individual’s efforts. Every child was aware of the small contribution they could each make to preserve the environment.
Sustainable school activities have given pupils opportunities to work together, responding to challenges, taking a lead and making decisions. Everyone now has an awareness of the problems facing the world. As a result, Shawlands has earned a string of awards, and became the first school in Glasgow to win the coveted Eco-schools Green Flag award.
Parents say the impact has filtered down to home life, particularly when it comes to recycling. One said: “The effect these young people are having will blossom all over the country. Parents are bowled over by what they have done and are themselves now more conscious of these issues and their importance.”
Judges noted the “clear shared vision among pupils and staff” to the sustainability curriculum. “The initiative has enriched the teaching and learning across a wide range of curriculum areas,” they said.
They were particularly impressed by a cycle rental scheme; for £30 a year, including regular maintenance, pupils can rent a bike and cycle to school. Another innovation is the rewards earned for choosing healthy options at lunchtime.
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