St Machar Eco-Group

St Machar Academy has initiated an Eco Week for all S3 pupils. This was piloted in 2013 and is going to be a annual event. As it is rolled out, this will mean that all pupils will have been involved during their time at St Machar Academy.

All pupils and staff have been involved in “Switch off fortnight” where all members of the school community were encouraged to ensure they were only using what energy was necessary. Daily meter readings were read out to staff and registration teachers would inform pupils whether they were using more/less electricity than the previous week. This has had a noticeable impact across the school where pupils are now frequently reminding teachers to switch off lights and data projectors.

The School based police officer has helped to reduce litter throughout the school by organising lunchtime litter picks. A group of pupils and staff collected litter and displayed what type of litter was the most common and how many bags were collected. A poster competition on reducing litter was also held and entries were displayed throughout the school.

Through S1 health week pupils take part in a walk along Aberdeen beach where they are taught about the responsibility of taking all litter away with them and encouraging pupils to pick up litter which is not theirs. It is hoped that this will be developed further in 2015 when we can incorporate a litter pick.

 

A group of six S2 pupils worked with local business Langstane housing association on the “Go4Set” project in 2013. This involved pupils producing a report and model on the school’s energy use and suggesting ideas for how to make the school more sustainable. Pupils visited Langstane’s new building which has been designed to be energy efficient and received support from their employees on reducing energy use.

During Eco week, various contacts were made throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire through the various trips organised. For one day of Eco week pupils elected to go on a trip to one of several choices. Links have been made with the National Trust at Crathes Castle where pupils did conservation work. The Ranger service at Bennachie Visitor Centre and the Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team was also used to give informative talks on how to care for the environment. Based in an inner city area, many of the pupils are unaware of aspects of caring for the environment such as the countryside code.

Through Eco week, we also worked with the John Muir Trust to give pupils the opportunity to gain the Discovery level award. Over 100 pupils gained this award.