The aim to develop an awareness of the issues around sustainability is a key value at the very heart of the academy's mission statement.
Introduction
Macmillan Academy first registered as an Eco- school over 15 years ago. These schools demonstrate reductions in carbon, waste, and water. They also promote healthier living and encourage community cohesion. In 2010 we were successful in achieving the highest award, the Green Flag Award which has been successfully renewed each year and is on display at the front of the academy.
It is everyone's responsibility to live our daily lives in a sustainable way that respects the environment and conserves valuable resources. It is important to think globally but act locally!
Wildflower Orchard
Something exciting has been happening in a corner of our school grounds over the last few years. An amazing palet of colour has been developing and new visitors have arrived on site! This is all because of the work of some Y9 students and the Eco-Squad in sowing a wild flower section through our wildflower Orchard. Also where cow slips, crocus and daffodils thrive in the spring.
Next time you play sport on the new astro pitch look to your right and you will see the wild flower meadow in the Orchard. We have had help from One Planet Pioneers in Middlesbrough, in developing the site and any parents visiting to watch matches, can take a rest on the seat originally from Stewarts Park, now renovated and donated by our volunteers.
The wild flower Orchard was part of our Polli:Nation project, a national scheme to help to increase the number
of pollinating species like bees and butterflies in our area. We have already spotted the comma and peacock
butterfly and lots of ladybird larva are now inhabiting the site. You can see blue cornflowers, orange and
red poppies and oxeye daisies producing amazing colours in the meadow, alongside lots of other wildflower species.
Also to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of WW1 dark red poppy seeds were available, which we also included in our mix and are now shining through to remind us of all the lives lost during this war. We worked with Beverley school (for children with autism) and two other local primary schools as part of our cluster for this project. They have also made changes to their school grounds.
You can visit the Polli:Nation site through FROG and here you can read our blogs describing how the project has developed and what changes we have made to the academy site. To quote Hans Christian Andersen ' Just living is not enough.... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.'
Projects
Students can get involved by joining the Eco-Council which has representatives across all year groups including sixth form. Ideas can also be sent via the FROG page.
We are already doing a whole range of things to promote sustainability here at the academy. These include:
Also to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of WW1 dark red poppy seeds were available, which we also included in our mix and are now shining through to remind us of all the lives lost during this war. We worked with Beverley school (for children with autism) and two other local primary schools as part of our cluster for this project. They have also made changes to their school grounds.
You can visit the Polli:Nation site through FROG and here you can read our blogs describing how the project has developed and what changes we have made to the academy site. To quote Hans Christian Andersen ' Just living is not enough.... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.'
Projects
Students can get involved by joining the Eco-Council which has representatives across all year groups including sixth form. Ideas can also be sent via the FROG page.
We are already doing a whole range of things to promote sustainability here at the academy. These include:
Saving Energy:
Turbines and solar panels are installed on site to harvest energy from renewable sources. We encourage the switching off of lights and computers, closing windows and we have installed low energy bulbs to reduce our energy usage. We buy local products to save our carbon footprint.
Litter:
Each year students litter pick in and outside the campus to help the community and wildlife.
Recycling
Bags and bins are available in classrooms and offices for paper and plastic bottle recycling.
We use recycled material where possible and have a battery recycling scheme in place.
Turbines and solar panels are installed on site to harvest energy from renewable sources. We encourage the switching off of lights and computers, closing windows and we have installed low energy bulbs to reduce our energy usage. We buy local products to save our carbon footprint.
Litter:
Each year students litter pick in and outside the campus to help the community and wildlife.
Recycling
Bags and bins are available in classrooms and offices for paper and plastic bottle recycling.
We use recycled material where possible and have a battery recycling scheme in place.
Water
Some toilet bricks are installed to reduce water usage and many of our taps have an automatic turn off.
Healthy living
Many of our students now bike to school. Our policy is no sweets in the academy and we have great healthier lunch choices. Students studying food and nutrition are able to use the fresh produce grown on the academy site in thier cooking projects.
Biodiversity
We have an established Eco-garden, allotment plots and a wildflower orchard. In previous years students (including Eco- council members) have planted bulbs at Stewarts Park, completed book reviews, built bird boxes, grown and harvested vegetables and planted native tree species to improve local woodlands.
Some toilet bricks are installed to reduce water usage and many of our taps have an automatic turn off.
Healthy living
Many of our students now bike to school. Our policy is no sweets in the academy and we have great healthier lunch choices. Students studying food and nutrition are able to use the fresh produce grown on the academy site in thier cooking projects.
Biodiversity
We have an established Eco-garden, allotment plots and a wildflower orchard. In previous years students (including Eco- council members) have planted bulbs at Stewarts Park, completed book reviews, built bird boxes, grown and harvested vegetables and planted native tree species to improve local woodlands.
Future Developments
Exciting developments have taken place in the Ecogarden including the planting of medicinal plants to form an apothecary garden just like in Harry Potter and our frog population continues to thrive in the pond. We have compost bins and a wormary to demonstrate decomposition.
Other projects we would like to get involved with include:
Exciting developments have taken place in the Ecogarden including the planting of medicinal plants to form an apothecary garden just like in Harry Potter and our frog population continues to thrive in the pond. We have compost bins and a wormary to demonstrate decomposition.
Other projects we would like to get involved with include:
- Recycling coffee pods
- Visiting local Eco sites to explore biodiversity
- Planting of new types of herbs to use in food technology
- Offering family cookery classes
- Energy saving projects
- Expand our meat free options for lunch