The school has been awarded the Eco Schools green flag

PUPILS in Kesgrave are today celebrating after their school was the first in East Anglia to receive a green flag status for eco initiatives.

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PUPILS in Kesgrave are today celebrating after their school was the first in East Anglia to receive a green flag status for eco initiatives.

The work of the eco team at Kesgrave High School in Main Road was subjected to a vigorous assessment, after which they were granted the full Eco-Schools Green Flag award.

The team, headed by head of environmental science Sian Anderson and made up of around 40 students, was formed in late 2007 to work towards achieving the prestigious green flag.

Among the projects undertaken by the school to save energy and protect the environment were gardening, conserving butterflies, installing solar panels, conserving woodland, recycling, cycling and turning off computers.

Following his visit, the eco schools assessor concluded that Kesgrave's project was one of the best he had seen in any high school, particularly in the way it was supported by staff and students.

Cath Breckell, deputy head of the school, said: “He [the eco schools assessor] was very impressed with the level of enthusiasm and commitment the students showed to environmental improvement; demonstrating a real desire to involve the wider community in green issues and their school.

“This is clearly something our youngsters and staff are passionate about and we look forward to keeping the momentum of the project going and to maintaining the environmental ethos that KHS has adopted so strongly.

“We are the first secondary school in the whole of East Anglia to achieve this status which is a remarkable achievement.

“Every student has played a part in this project, however big or small and everyone should be proud that they were a part of KHS achieving this prestigious award. The staff and students that make up our eco-school team have shown outstanding commitment to this project. It was because of them that this project reached such great things in such a short amount of time.”

Kesgrave High is known to have the highest proportion of pupils who cycle to school in the country, as up to 80 per cent of students take to their bikes in the summer.

Are you doing your bit for the environment? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.