National Recognition for the School
Sustainability Project Update #9
This update is a special one, dedicated to the remarkable achievements of our school partner, who despite having to cope with everything Covid could throw at them (and everyone else) has made some remarkable strides to champion our community project and as we report below it is winning national recognition for this work.
In our January update no 8 we reported that 2021 was the Year we started to make a difference, well this year has begun with the deserved recognition for the sustainability work that the school is achieving. It will not only benefit the school and the community but hopefully prepare pupils for life in a rapidly changing world.
The story so far… lots of learning, doing and achieving
School Year 2020-21 was one of sound, consistent achievement as the whole school; pupils, teaching and support staff decided to strive for Eco Schools recognition which they did by working their way through and adopting the required changes in personal behaviours, school systems and routines.
By Christmas 2020 a competition had been held to design a logo for our Community Sustainability Project and our Eco-friendly World logo features on all our publications alongside our Green Home logo. First milestone, the Bronze Award was attained around Christmas, followed by the Silver Award at Easter and the Gold standard on the last day of Summer Term. They will hold it for 2 years before reassessment. A fantastic achievement!
Meanwhile, armed with the final Locogen Feasibility study, work started to find the funding to implement the report findings. Work to improve the energy efficiency of the building was undertaken during the summer holidays with a batch of old, draughty windows being replaced with modern double-glazed ones.
School Year 2021-22 started with Eco schools announcing that they were reviewing and updating attainment requirements to reflect the rapidly developing knowledge of sustainability issues. In light of this the school children decided they would focus their efforts on maintaining and building on their Eco School Gold standard by recycling more widely, reducing energy consumption, reducing traffic pollution and cutting waste.
Since September lots more has been done.
They decided to launch a Biodiversity Project. Next, the school decided to join the newly formed Let’s Go Zero Schools campaign, where member schools commit to be Zero Carbon by 2030.
The pupils have dug 2 beds and sown wild flowers in the school garden area. An area of the school grounds has been designated a ‘no mow’ area, to allow different species of plants to become established. In addition, the children have also dug a pond to attract different insects and animals.
There is more to come; the next things planned are to get more wildlife boxes installed (hedgehog houses, bird boxes etc) and to plant some more trees.
Meanwhile, the pupils haven’t lost sight of identifying how the school could save more energy and reduce their energy consumption and they have had the opportunity to learn how to use the Project Thermal Imaging Camera to see where heat is wasted through draughts or poor insulation.
Let’s Go Zero Campaign recognises Monk Fryston School.
In February 2022 the campign’s National press release celebrated our school as the 1000th school to join the campaign. This campaign involves 544,000 students and 75,500 staff. Monk Fryston featured as the English School representative in this press release, which can be read alongside this project update on the above website or found on the Community Association Sustainability news website www.mfhcc.com/sustainability-project/news-about-us/
The work of the school has also been showcased in a national webinar hosted by the Let’s Go Zero campaign, which can also be viewed on their website.
This is very well-deserved recognition for all the Monk Fryston School Family. Well Done.
Fantastic Funding News!!!
More national recognition came in mid-March, when after lengthy multiple applications and discussions with the Government organisation Salix, the school was granted funds to replace the existing fossil fuel gas heating systems with Heat Pump systems. This will involve a combination of a Ground Source Heat Pump, an Air Source Heat Pump and an Air-to-Air heating system.
Things are moving very quickly and work is planned to commence this April and will be completed by September, before the start of the new school term.
The award of funding is the result of two years’ work on the project, where a number of obstacles have had to be navigated to achieve success. It is part of a wider scheme that aims to install additional energy conservation measures to achieve carbon neutrality. Further funding is being sought for the installation of solar panels and LED lighting, as well as fitting newer windows and doors for better thermal insulation. Improving the biodiversity of the school grounds and reducing the amount of food waste by composting are also being addressed.
Executive Headteacher, Mr Rick Weights, said, “I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to secure funding for this project. Our children take climate change very seriously and want us to show that we are doing our bit to reduce carbon emissions. Installing renewable energy will enable them to see for themselves how we are eliminating fossil fuels, and understand what can be achieved by installing alternative technology.”
What a brilliant outcome to 2 years’ work …this puts Monk Fryston and Hillam at the leading edge of Community Sustainability Projects. Well done to everyone involved.
Want to know more?
We plan to showcase the school installations at a public event in October as part of a series of events planned to commence in May – more will be announced in our next Newsletter which will be published in April when we hope to be able to share more exciting news.
For Your information
The Community Centre website now has a section dedicated to the project, our embryonic Sustainability Information and Energy Advice Centre – where you can find the full Interim and Final Feasibility study reports www.mfhcc.com/sustainability-project/news-about-us/
If you have any feedback or comments to share or require further information, please contact Ray Newton on 01977 682084 or 07706 795334 or via www.mfhcc.com/sustainability-project/news-about-us/contact-us/
Thank you for your support.
The Steering Group and Project Partner
220301_MFH_CSP_Project_Update_09.pdf
