Methodology

The Eco-Schools programme is based on the ISO14001:2004 that specifies requirements for an environmental management system to enable an organization to develop and implement a policy and objectives which take into account legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and information about significant environmental aspects. The ISO14001:2004 applies to those environmental aspects that the organization identifies as those which it can control and those which it can influence.

The Eco-Schools Methodology encompasses Seven Steps that any school can adopt. The process involves a wide range of stakeholders, but pupils play the central role:

1. Eco-Schools Committee
The Eco-Schools Committee is the driving force of the Eco-Schools process and the first step towards becoming an Eco-School. The committee directs the operations of a school’s Eco-Schools programme.

2. Environmental Review
Work commences with a review or assessment of the environmental impact of the school. The results of your Environmental Review will inform your Action Plan; assisting your school to decide whether change is necessary, urgent, or not required at all. It will also help you to set realistic targets and measure your success.

3. Action Plan
The action plan is the core of your Eco-Schools work and should be developed using the results of your environmental review. This information is used to identify priority areas and create an action plan, setting achievable and realistic targets and deadlines to improve environmental performance on specific issues by listing a number of agreed environmental objectives, along with deadlines and clearly allocated responsibilities for each step. Where possible, it should also be linked to the curriculum, show any cost implications, and specify arrangements for monitoring and evaluation.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation
To find out whether or not you are successfully achieving the targets laid out in your Action Plan, you must monitor and measure your progress. As well as allowing you to judge the success of your activities and plan any necessary changes, a continuous monitoring process will help you to make sure that interest in the programme is maintained throughout the school.

5. Curriculum Work
Besides increasing the status of the programme, linking Eco-Schools activities to the curriculum ensures that Eco-Schools is truly integrated within the school community. The general strategy suggested is that of infusing environmental education concepts into the already existing subjects and not that of presenting a new subject. In addition to increasing an awareness of the environment, the weaving of an environmental education dimension in a particular subject enriches the subject concerned and thus makes it more relevant and interesting.

6. Informing and Involving
One key aim of the Eco-Schools programme is to raise general awareness of your environmental activities - throughout the school and the wider community - and to make sure that as many people as possible get a chance to take part. Actions should not just be confined to the school: for example, pupils should take home ideas to put into practice.

7. Eco-Code
• The Eco-Code is a mission statement. It should demonstrate, in a clear and imaginative way, your school’s commitment to improving its environmental performance. It should be memorable and familiar to everyone in the school.
• The Eco-Code should list the main objectives of your Action Plan, covering real actions that pupils and staff intend to carry out. It is crucial that pupils play a key role in the development of the eco-Code, as this will give them a greater sense of responsibility towards the values the Eco-Code represents.
• The content of the Eco-Code should be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that it continues to reflect the school’s eco aims and targets.
• The format of the Eco-Code is entirely up to the school. It could be a list of statements, an acrostic, song/rap or poem. The format should be appropriate for the age/ability of the pupils concerned.
• The Eco-Code should be prominently displayed throughout the school; i.e. in every classroom, in communal areas, on Eco Boards and in the staffroom. The Eco-Code could also be released to the local press and the general public.