A SCHOOL has been given an award recognising its work to protect the environment.

Steyning Grammar School pupils worked hard to achieve the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award.

To earn the accolade, the school formed an eco council which had to complete seven steps.

These were to create an eco committee, carry out environmental reviews, establish an action plan, find curriculum links, inform and involve the school and the wider community, monitor and evaluate their actions and create an eco code.

As part of the process, the council started a pupil-led campaign involving assemblies, staff briefings, communication sheets and two programmes of data collection, to reduce the school’s energy consumption.

Next it saved 1,300 plastic bottles from being discarded into landfill by instead using them to create commemorative poppy displays for Remembrance Day last year.

The council worked with the school’s catering manager to abolish single-use plastic cutlery in the canteen, replacing it with biodegradable cutlery.

Eco council’s co-founder Michael Shirley, who is in Year 11, said: “From a room of just two people and our co-headteacher, we now have a dynamic, clever and environmentally focused group of more than 70 students and we are ready to create real change here at Steyning Grammar.

“I am immensely happy and proud of the progress we have made and would like to thank the Eco Schools programme for the guidance they have given us.

“We look forward to further achievements and milestones over many years to come, for our school, and most importantly, the environment.”

Year 13 student Josh Payne, fellow co-founder, said: “Amazing, we are now one of the largest schools in the country to gain this award.

“Every aspect of getting this award was challenging and just goes to show what students can do when they put their mind to something.”