Cassop Primary School

Teaching Awards 2007 Winner

The DfES Award for Sustainable Schools

Cassop Primary School, DURHAM

Teaching Awards judges were bowled over by their visit to this school. “Humbling”; “uplifting”; “a privilege” was how they described the occasion.

Cassop Primary is a net exporter to the national grid and its wind turbine dominates the skyline, a powerful symbol of the school’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Pupils are immensely proud that their school is heated from recycled wood through a carbon neutral heating system; that solar panels as well as the wind turbine power the school, and they have become superb ambassadors for the sustainable energy agenda to the hundreds of people, regionally and internationally, who visit their school every year.

The children are very clear about how small, practical steps on a local scale can lead to global solutions and the environment they have helped to create – the recycling centre, organic vegetable garden, wildlife area for pond-dipping and bird watching, tree planting schemes and a secret garden for story-telling – has become a vast educational resource.

Judges met children who were articulate, knowledgeable, open, enthusiastic and creative because they were part of an inspirational setting for learning and live the sustainability agenda. Although the school serves two ex-colliery villages, its environmental profile has given new pride and a new heart to this community. Children are only too willing to give presentations as part of Cassop’s “Environmental Extra” service to other schools and community groups who come for sustainability courses. They have “taken to heart” their twin school in Kenya, undertaking fund-raising to provide the school with solar panels – the only energy source within fifty miles. They have made presentations on sustainability to a House of Commons select committee and led debate and discussion with the Dutch opposition spokesman for energy; their thinking skills enhanced, according to their headteacher, because they have been working on real projects with real consequences.

Through sustainability their school has become a beacon of excellence in every aspect of learning.

Message Board

Please leave a messsage for Cassop Primary School

• Congratulations Cassop!

  On behalf of WWF, our heartfelt congratulations on winning the very first national Sustainable Schools award. Very well deserved and an emotional moment. Looking forward to the opening of your new sustainability classroom next year! Best wishes Karen Gates and the WWF team

  Posted: October 21, 2007 at 22:10 PM | Author: Karen Gates

• Congratulations

  Well done Jim. Excellent result. Jill and Bill

  Posted: October 22, 2007 at 09:10 AM | Author: Jill Robson

• Well done!

  A massive well done to everyone at Cassop. It's brilliant to see your success being picked up in this way. Look forward to your example serving as an inspiration for loads more schools. Jake

  Posted: October 22, 2007 at 11:10 AM | Author: Jake Reynolds

• d

  Wel done

  Posted: October 22, 2007 at 19:10 PM | Author: f

• Congratulations

  Well done to everyone at Cassop Primary School. Like you, Canon Burrows Primary School here in Tameside, Greater Manchester, are working to make our school as sustainable as possible. Your work is a great inspiration for us all to continue, and aim higher. Keep up the good work. Andy Clark

  Posted: October 22, 2007 at 20:10 PM | Author: Andy Clark, Eco Co-ordinator.

• Well Done

  Many congratulations on your award.

  Posted: October 22, 2007 at 22:10 PM | Author: Stephen Cabrera

• Congratulations

  Out of all the awards presented last Sunday, it was your school and the wonderful work you are all doing there that touched me the most. Congratulations to your school community.

  Posted: October 23, 2007 at 18:10 PM | Author: Ann Dwulit

• Wow!

  Fantastic news about your award and give yourselves a big pat on the back for all your hard work and enthusiasm. Jim - the David Bellamy is coming on well. Sue (Kangaroo Island expedition with Jim)

  Posted: October 23, 2007 at 20:10 PM | Author: Sue Andrew

• Puggle Pride

  Well done Jim from all your Kangaroo Island pals including Ruby. You're doing a fabulous job up there at Cassop and you can be rightly proud of the children. The future of the world will be safe in their hands.Congratulations to you all.

  Posted: October 23, 2007 at 22:10 PM | Author: margaret willis

• formerly Oxclose Nursery School headteacher

  Congratulations to Jim, your staff and pupils. So well deserved. Real education at its very best.I've been telling everyone for years about your marvellous school and its assured and confident pupils.

  Posted: October 24, 2007 at 07:10 AM | Author: Margaret Dineley

• Privileged Judge

  As one of the judging team that was indeed privileged to visit Cassop Primary School, may I extend my sincere congratulations to everyone in the school for their well-deserved award. What we all found so inspiring was the commitment to sustainability that permeated every aspect of the life of the school. I am delighted that this has been recognised on the national stage.

  Posted: October 24, 2007 at 10:10 AM | Author: Kevin McDermid

• Congratulations!

  It was great to meet you at the awards and amazing to see what you are doing - clearly an example for many to follow. I wish you every success in the future! Enjoy it!

  Posted: October 24, 2007 at 12:10 PM | Author: Andy Bell

• Congratulations!

  It was great to meet you at the awards and amazing to see what you are doing - clearly an example for many to follow. I wish you every success in the future! Enjoy it!

  Posted: October 24, 2007 at 12:10 PM | Author: Andy Bell

• Well done.

  Well I think what you've acheived is amazing well done...if only everyone would follow your lead.

  Posted: October 24, 2007 at 21:10 PM | Author: Deanna Harford

• sustainable inspiration

  Well done Jim! A fantastic and deserved achievement for all at your school and your supportive community. I'm sure you will continue to inspire other schools with Cassop's 'hands on' sustainable approach.

  Posted: October 24, 2007 at 23:10 PM | Author: Paula Owens

• A Leading Light

  Well done to you all for a brilliant achievement. I found this inspirational!

  Posted: October 25, 2007 at 12:10 PM | Author: Kathy Seddon

• Well done!

  Anje from the BBC had told me she's been filming at "this fantastic sustainable school in the north east" so it was really good to meet you and have a chat on the steps of the Palladium about the work the school has done. Well done - a richly deserved award.

  Posted: October 26, 2007 at 20:10 PM | Author: Kevin Harcombe

• Please can you share your expertise!

  Well done to everyone at Cassop Primary School, a shining example for all of us to follow. Billingham South Primary School near Stockton is just starting out on your sustaining road and we would love to talk to you about your success. Once again, a great achievement!

  Posted: October 28, 2007 at 16:10 PM | Author: Kenneth Malcolm Robinson

• Congratulations from all at The Forge

  Well done to Jim and the gang for making Cassop such a fantastic school to work with. I think you may have achieved a new first at the weekend with a mention on Have I got News for you ! See you all soon.

  Posted: October 29, 2007 at 11:10 AM | Author: Tony Harrington

• Dont forget we will would like to help!

  Not really the norm to send ourselves a message, but......Thank you to all who have supported us both in our efforts and since winning the Award. Special thanks to Durham County Council , our wonderful staff,various grant givers (in particular Premier Waste) and to Jill Essam for helping navigate the grants over the years! We run a service to share what we have learned with other schools and will work directly with either your staff or children. www.cassopschool.org.uk ..then simply ring! ps we still seek a partner/sponser to fund the sustainability teaching work with visiting groups, if anyone can help

  Posted: October 29, 2007 at 15:10 PM | Author: Jim McManners

• top of the class

  Well done Jim. Seeing Cassop on the telly made us proud and brought home just what a fantastic start in life you are giving our kids. Jim - we love you and your staff and all that you have done.

  Posted: October 31, 2007 at 23:10 PM | Author: Andy Wallace

• I have chosen your example

  Hi Jim. My congratulations for the award. I have to do a project at my university about schools that are concerned with environmental issues, and I thought of your school as a good example. Does your school have a website? Would be nice to learn more. Thank you for your work.

  Posted: November 1, 2007 at 10:11 AM | Author: Maryna Radkevich

• Congratulations!

  We were so proud that a school in County Durham has won such a wonderful award. We love to walk around Cassop Vale and are delighted that the children of Cassop School are so caring about the environment. School staff and children, you are an inspiration!

  Posted: November 1, 2007 at 10:11 AM | Author: Irene and Cliff Wilkinson

• Cassop on the map

  A huge well done to all those involved at Cassop School. The comunity really value our school and are extremely grateful to the difference you make to our children's lives. Just reward for years of hard work.

  Posted: November 1, 2007 at 18:11 PM | Author: Martin Wilson

• An Oustanding School

  Congratulations Jim to everyone at the school. Your school highlights that embedding sustainability into all the activities of a school takes time, determination and leadership but anything is possible. It it a coincidence that Ofsted judge you as an outstanding school for achievement/ attainment, I think not!

  Posted: November 2, 2007 at 08:11 AM | Author: Rich Hurst

• Congratulations to all involved

  Well done. A brilliant and well deserved achievement.

  Posted: November 11, 2007 at 14:11 PM | Author: Charlotte Hatto

• Fantastic news!

  Well done Jim and all your wonderful children and staff! Couldn't be more pleased for you - a really well deserved award. Where are you off to next? (You know we're always playing catch up - or trying to, at least!!) Hope to meet up with you again soon. Best wishes from all of us at Woodheys Primary in Sale.

  Posted: November 12, 2007 at 17:11 PM | Author: Freda Eyden

• PROUD PARENTS !

  We were all so proud to see our school and children win this award.The children love going to school and as parents we couldnt wish for a better start in life for them.They are all very conscious of what needs to be done to help our planet and we are sure this will stay with them for ever. We hope you can raise more awareness and receive more funding that is needed to further your efforts. Well done Jim and all staff.

  Posted: November 21, 2007 at 21:11 PM | Author: DIANNE AND COLIN OLIVER

• wind turbine

  the question i would like to ask is why as this wind turbine not been working for months, I can not understand why it supposed to save electricity and now as just become an expensive ornament,if it is broken and it suppose to save money ,have it fixed

  Posted: January 9, 2008 at 14:01 PM | Author: Harry Dalby

• well done!!!

  well done.

  Posted: January 12, 2008 at 09:01 AM | Author: jay

• Inspirational

  What an inspiration to other schools on the road to sustainability, we have recently become a Green Flag school and we realise how much we still have to do! Keep up the good work and well done. From all of us at Caldershaw Primary in Rochdale.

  Posted: January 30, 2008 at 10:01 AM | Author: Roy Down, Eco-school co-ord