Eco-Warriors

Welcome to Atkinson Road Primary Academy’s Eco-Warrior Webpage, where you can find out all about our Eco-Warriors and the work we are doing. 

In 2023, we retained the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award with Distinction, after working on a series of projects to help the environment. We are very proud to fly our Eco-School flag and our Eco-Warriors work hard to continue our efforts to promote environmental projects and raise awareness of our responsibility for our planet.

Every year, each class from Nursery to Year 6 chooses one pupil to represent them on our Eco-Team. Our team of Eco-Warriors meet regularly to discuss our progress and make decisions about our next steps to help both our environment in school and the wider community and world. We share our plans with our classes and in school assemblies, so everyone feels involved.

Why Do We Have Eco-Warriors?

Being an Eco-Warrior is an ideal opportunity for our pupils to get more involved in the way our school is run and help us to be more environmentally friendly. It provides opportunities for pupils to communicate their feelings as well as influence the decisions we make. 

Our Eco-Warriors express not only their own views, but those of their peers too, and feed back information from Eco-Team meetings back to their classes. As Eco-Warriors, pupils have the opportunity to develop skills such as confidence, communication and negotiation and have contributed to the Green Tree Woodland. In 2020, we received the Woodlands Trust’s Green Tree School award, which is presented to schools that encourage outdoor learning.

What Do Our Eco-Warriors Do?

Our Eco-Warriors help to care for our school environment. They help others to follow our eco-code, monitor our energy use and encourage teachers and children to recycle. 

Eco-Warriors take part in discussions and votes and feedback any relevant information to their class. Members meet regularly with Ms Andrews and Mrs Hetherington to discuss their ideas.

Energy Saving Tips From Our Eco-Warriors

1. Saving energy can save you money as well as be good for the environment.
2. Turn your appliance off standby mode – it can save around £40 per year!
3. Switch off lights when you leave a room
4. Be careful with your washing machine – make sure you have a full load and wash on a lower heat (30 degrees)
5. Only boil what water you need in a kettle
6. Turn down your heating thermostat – putting it down by one degree can save around £80 per year (or a lot more as energy costs are rising)

Water-Saving Tips

1. Turn off the tap when cleaning your teeth – it saves two buckets per day
2. Use a water displacement device in your toilet cistern – saves 1-2 litres per flush
3. Shower for one minute less a day and save 15 litres per minute
4. Wash one full load of washing instead of two half loads and save 10 litres of water
5. Use a watering can instead of a hose in the garden and save 15 litres per minute

Recycling Tips

1. Clothes can be brought to our own clothes recycling bin in the schoolyard
2. Toys can be loved again by donating them to a charity shop
3. Recycle all plastic bottles in your recycling bin and remember to keep the lids on
4. Make sure your recycling is clean – remove any food residue before placing anything in the recycling bin
5. If you are not sure what can go in your recycling bin, look at the Newcastle City Council website for their recycling A - Z.