Proud to be eco and fair-trade

What is an eco school?

The eco-school programme is an international initiative designed to encourage schools to take action to protect the environment. It's a recognised award scheme which accredits schools that commit to continuously improving their environmental performance. It also raises awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues by linking activities to curricular subject areas.

There are ten topic areas which an eco-school needs to address:

  • litter
  • waste minimisation
  • energy
  • water
  • transport
  • health and well-being
  • school grounds
  • bio-diversity
  • sustaining our world
  • food and the environment.

At Ochil Tower School, we were delighted to be awarded our first Green Flag in 2010. Since then we've been awarded three more Green Flags. You can find out more about eco-schools here.

Our school eco code

  • Outdoor life is great
  • Composting for life
  • Heating too hot? Turn it down!
  • I love Eco
  • Litter? Pick it up!
  • Turn it off
  • Order local and Fair Trade produce
  • Water – waste not, want not
  • Eat 5-a-day!
  • Reduce, reuse, recycle.

A Fair Trade School

It’s so easy to get caught up in our own little world. At Ochil Tower we realise that we can all make a difference and help change the wider world around us. Fair Trade is the solution for many farmers and producers, and we want to share this strong message.

2012 was the year we began our journey to become a Fair Trade School, and our weekly school assemblies have been important in raising our awareness and developing our understanding. Ochil Tower has been a Fair Trade School since 2014 and in 2017 we received our Fair Achiever School Certificate. We're very proud of all the hard work that has gone into this.Themes which have occupied us throughout the years have included food and Fair Trade, fairness and injustice, global poverty and co-operatives and rights and responsibilities.

Here some of the activities and awareness raising events we have engaged in so far:

  • various fundraisers including walking a marathon
  • taking on the consignment of selling 90kg of Malawi rice
  • Fair Trade Plays
  • Fair Trade school festival
  • Whole school topics on Fair Trade
  • Whole school Fair Trade breakfast
  • Fair Trade coffee morning
  • Fair Trade break.

We’re very keen and motivated to continue this hard work and keep our status as a Fair Achiever School.

The Fair Trade Schools Award is run by the Fair Trade Foundation and is open to all primary and secondary schools to help us develop our knowledge and understanding of global issues. You can find out more about it here.