Greener schools: what parents can do

As a parent, you can help reduce the environmental impact of the school day. Actions you can take directly include thinking about how your child gets to school. You may also be able to influence school policy through active involvement you have with the school - like being a parent governor.

Becoming a school governor

Becoming a school governor

Getting to school

One of the main areas where you can have an effect is choosing how your child gets to school. Private car travel is a big source of carbon emissions, so finding alternative ways of getting to school will make a difference.

Things you could do include:

try to use greener methods of transport – cycling, walking or public transport
nominate one day a week (or more) as a walk or cycle to school day
suggest that your school supplies pupils with secure cycle sheds and takes measures to ensure safe routes to school
if you have to travel by car, see if you can share with a neighbour or friend

Food and drink at school

Producing, transporting and consuming food is responsible for nearly a third of our impact on climate change. Choices about packed lunches, tuck shops and the canteen can help the environment - and can often have additional benefits for children's health:

suggest stocking fresh, locally in season or Fairtrade produce in the tuck shop or canteen
suggest, or offer to set up, a school fruit and vegetable garden; this could also provide many learning opportunities and links to the curriculum

Greener food and drink (environment and greener living section)

Reducing waste at school

There are many opportunities to reduce waste at school. For example, you could encourage the school to:

set up recycling bins in the classroom and encourage pupils to recycle
reduce the amount of packaged goods in lunchboxes to cut down the amount of waste
use both sides of paper to reduce waste
set up a scheme to encourage pupils to pass on or sell old text books to other pupils once they've finished with them
consider setting up a compost bin at the school to reduce food waste
arrange a visit to a local landfill or recycling site so pupils can see what happens to their waste

Tips on recycling at school - RecycleNow

Saving energy at school

Suggestions for saving energy in a school could include:

encouraging pupils to turn off lights and electronic equipment when they have finished using them
switching off computer monitors and printers properly instead of leaving them on standby
considering using energy saving light bulbs at the school, or even alternative energy sources for heating, like wind or solar power

Eco-Schools Programme

Eco-Schools in Northern Ireland works closely with a number of education and environmental organisations to help deliver the programme. All five education and library boards are involved in the programme as are the majority of the 26 local councils.

If your school registers you will be part of an international group of schools working towards education for sustainable development and a better quality of life for local and global communities.

Additional information and downloads of the bulletin for Eco-Schools Northern Ireland is available on the TIDY Northern Ireland website.