Support & Resources

Support available from Worcestershire County Council:

• Termly Eco Schools meetings are held in each Worcestershire district. This gives teachers the chance to share ideas, inspire each other and look at the themes in more detail. Visit News & Events for dates of the next District Eco Schools meetings and notes from previous meetings.
• Eco Schools Conferences are held to give pupils and teachers the chance to get together, celebrate Eco Schools achievements and share ideas to build upon the good work that is already happening in Worcestershire. Visit News & Events for information about the 2008 Eco Schools Conferences.
• Staff training through WWF’s Development Framework for School Sustainability
• Support for school Action Teams / Eco Committees
• Introductory assemblies
• A regular ESD Newsletter is sent out to schools informing schools of current opportunities, events and projects.

To find out more about Eco Schools in Worcestershire, please contact:

Rupert Brakspear, 01905 766378, for Primary, Middle and High Schools

Resources

The Earth Balloon has caused quite a stir in the County and was featured nationally on BBCTV's Breakfast Time.

The portable, 6.7m diameter, inflatable globe is being used in County schools for work across the school curriculum; particularly for Geography and Science.
As well as undertaking work around the exterior of the balloon, up to a whole class of pupils are able to enter through zipson the International date Line or Greenwich Meridian.
In addition to supporting traditional subject areas, such as Geography, the globe is being used as a teaching aid for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship education, which are new features of the National Curriculum
For booking details, please call Rupert Brakspear on 01905 766378.

Worcestershire Ecoschools small grants scheme
Grants of £50 (to be match funded by schools) are now available for newly registered and silver flag Ecoschools. Aimed at Eco-committees, the grants are intended for items such as simple gardening equipment, recycling bags or Eco-committee badges. For details contact Rupert Brakspear (01905 766378) or complete and return the Grant Application Form  (569.50 KB).

Switched on Communities Ecoschools Grants: up to £5000
Schools in England that are registered with Eco-Schools can now apply for funding to help them progress through the programme. Grants of up to £5000 will be awarded to allow positive change and development within a school. Priority will be given to projects that clearly demonstrate an energy efficiency element or identify technology solutions to environmental improvements. Visit the Eco Schools website to find out more.

Worcestershire's Eco Schools Directory  (455.55 KB)– a comprehensive list of support and contact details for all 9 themes.

Biodiversity Factsheets are available to help you do something practical for wildlife in your school grounds. For further information around biodiversity and schools grounds, please see the Biodiversity for Schools information, designed to be used by teachers and pupils to enable Worcestershire schools to investigate, learn about and record the biodiversity in and around their school grounds.

Parish Mapping Project – for a copy of the DVD, please contact Rupert Brakspear.