Frodsham Primary Academy 'Highly Commended' by Green Education Awards

Frodsham Primary Academy has received a ‘highly commended’ award from the Primary Awards for Green Education in School (PAGES) after pupils embraced a new eco-friendly project.

Most people will throw an empty plastic bottle straight into the recycling bin without a second thought. But, for Frodsham Primary Academy pupils those containers can enjoy a useful new life before they head to the recycling plant, including being transformed into furniture for the school grounds!

Their innovative approach has attracted the attention of judges at a new green awards scheme for UK schools, which aims to encourage environmental education for young people aged 5-11.

Almost 35,000 children across the country were involved in the creation of entries for this year’s competition and Frodsham’s pupils’ efforts won a ‘highly commended’ in the PAGES green creators category, winning lots of kudos and £100 for the school.

The children submitted a report on the work they had been doing since last summer to make ‘eco bricks’ out of plastic bottles and containers, which they used to construct a sofa and stools for their forest school area in which they have also created a bumblebee friendly zone by planting bee friendly plants. Spare eco bricks have been used to make bumblebee models.

Hard at work planting a bumblebee friendly zone in Frodsham Primary Academy’s forest school area are (from left) Reception pupil Albert, Year 6 pupil Jack and Year 3 pupil Prraveesh.

The project was part of a programme of eco activities including an eco-day which featured a presentation of their creations and classroom work to parents as well as a fashion show featuring the children parading in clothes fashioned out of rubbish.

Teacher Alice Pemberton said: “The children are so proud of this award. They’ve really embraced these green activities and they have learned so much about the importance of sustainability and preserving the natural world.”