South West Newham EAZ

The future grows greener for St Luke’s as its second Green Flag flies high

St Luke’s Primary School has been growing green with pride after being awarded its second Green Flag by the national organisation EnCams.

And on Friday 3 April the whole school was able to celebrate its achievement when London City Airport’s Chief Executive, Richard Gooding, joined St Luke’s Eco Warriors in hoisting the Green Flag, assisted by a fanfare of hand trumpets, cheering and clapping.

A supporter and friend of the Canning Town School for 13 years, Richard said City Airport was honoured to be involved. “This has been a very important week for this part of Canning Town, which has seen more international leaders than ever before talking about the future of the world, about the environment and the green agenda. What is happening here at St Luke’s today compliments this, and I am delighted to be part of today’s event.”

Richard Gooding joins St Luke’s Eco Warriors in hoisting the school’s second green flag award for environmental initiatives.

Pupils, teachers, Governors and parents were among those to witness the hoisting of the Flag in St Luke’s Eco Garden, which was awarded to the school for the extensive environmental and health initiatives it has put in place during the last two year.

In a congratulatory letter to St Luke from EnCam, the organisation praised the time and effort St Luke’s has invested in environmental education, saying: “Your Award is well deserved and reflects the hard work you have put into the programme so far”.

Commenting on St Luke’s green initiatives, Chair of St Luke’s School Governors, Margaret Wright, said: “We are not just a nuclear school; this is part of our way of working and living. The children are fantastic and have such enthusiasm for the project.”

One such enthusiastic pupil is eight-year-old Rafaella Menses. An Eco Warrior since September she said: I am very proud of getting this Flag. It shows us we are a healthy school and green.”

Eco Warrior Caleb Walker (6) was also delighted. “It means a lot to me because I’ve been involved and it shows we are a really green school,” he said.

While for seven-year-old Umran Tuglu, who has been an Eco Warrier for three years: “The Green Flag means a lot to me as it shows we are carrying on being an eco school. We are moving on and still helping and looking after the environment and I really enjoy looking after the environment.”

As well as the Eco Garden, where each class has its own allotment, St Luke’s has been a main stalwart of the Kids for Cleaner Communities project, has drawn up a Climate Levy Fund to encourage ways of cutting its energy bills, has installed water butts around the school to cut down on mains water, encourages the use of recycling, received a Higher Level Sustainable Schools Award for promoting responsible transport with 78 per cent of pupils now walking to school.

“St Luke’s puts sustainability at the heart of school life; it permeates our school community,” said Headteacher Theresa Aanonson. “Our eco school’s work has become embedded in all we do. Our practical activities and curriculum links have been extended beyond the school and we have significantly influenced the local and wider community.”