St Francis Xavier Catholic School
Teaching Awards 2008 Winner
The DCSF Award for Sustainable Schools in West Midlands
St Francis Xavier Catholic School, Oldbury
Before they learn about sustainability, pupils newly arrived to St Frances Xavier Catholic School from overseas have to learn a very important lesson about local culture – that the garden shed has a very special place in the English garden! The potting shed at this primary is loved by children as a base for environmental activities, stories and chats, and lies at the heart of its sustainability curriculum.
Sustainability is central to the ethos of this school, is embedded in the entire curriculum and part of personalised learning. Teacher strive to make it relevant to pupils’ practical work and life experiences.
The school serves a challenging area, and children spend most of their free time in the immediate locality of the school. So staff have involved them in a huge number of community projects such as litter picks and community gardening. This has inspired youngsters, and families, to take responsibility for their local environment.
The school’s dedicated conservation area has a greenhouse and pupils have the use of all-weather clothing. They have filled bottles with water and placed them in the toilet cisterns to limit the amount of water being consumed and have led a campaign to reduce energy loss. The school photocopier has an automatic switch-off and food waste is composted. Low voltage fans keep the air cool in classrooms on hot days, and recycled water is used wherever possible.
Shelters have been provided for parents in wet weather to encourage them to walk rather than use their cars. The school has links with local tram and train service providers who provide ‘taster’ journeys for pupils, and staff use public transport or car share.
St Xavier has a long-established partnership with schools in Gujurat, and pupils sell handicrafts sent from India. They share profit and loss spreadsheets with their Indian counterparts via e-mail.
Mary Simmons, the headteacher, said: “The children are without doubt our most effective 'sustainability ambassadors' and have done much to educate and arouse interest amongst communities.”
The Teaching Awards Judges described the school “a beacon in the area reflecting what can be achieved by having a clear vision and policies.”
