Schools recognised for sustainability

School children and teachers from across Cornwall have been recognised for their environmental work at a new award ceremony.

The Cornwall Sustainability Awards for Schools, launched by Cornwall Learning Education Business Partnership (CLEBP) at the annual Sustainable Conference supported by Ashden, aims to celebrate the work done by schools to improve sustainability and inspire pupils.

Cape Cornwall School, near St Just in west Cornwall, was named Overall Winner at the ceremony held at the Pavilion Centre at the Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge.

Award organiser Rachel Delourme from CLEBP said: “What an amazing first year this has been for the awards.

“We were inspired to run this for schools after seeing the success businesses and organisations in Cornwall achieved by being involved with the Cornwall Sustainability Awards for Business.

“All the schools that have taken part have really bought into the scheme and have come up with some amazing ideas in order to be more sustainable, improve well-being and look after the environment on a local and global level.”

The judges singled out Cape Cornwall School for its work in the local area, which includes the delivery of 200 hampers to lonely, vulnerable and isolated people. Each hamper also continues a jar of jam, which has been made by the pupils after growing and harvesting their own crops.

Gwinear Community Primary School won three awards in the Energy and Water, School Grounds and Biodiversity and Inclusion and Participation categories.

Winner in the Traffic and Travel and Purchasing and Waste categories was Portreath Community Primary School near Redruth.

The school was also highly commended in the Global Dimension award, while it was awarded the special John Hill – Scrap Attack award for the Best Litter Pick.

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Bodmin won the Henry Orchard and Sons award for Best Waste Minimisation, as well as being highly commended in the Purchasing and Waste category.

There were highly commended awards for Penair School in the Energy and Water category, and Pool Academy in the Traffic and Travel award.

St Breock Community Primary School in Wadebridge finished with two highly commended awards in the School Grounds and Biodiversity and Healthy Eating categories.

This was matched by Sir Robert Gefferys School in Landrake, near Saltash, for Inclusion and Participation and Local Well-Being.