Green-Schools is Ireland's leading environmental education and award programme, working with primary and secondary schools across the country.
Green-Schools’ mission is to protect planet Earth
Green-Schools is a long-term environment education and awareness programme where schools and the wider community work together for a Sustainable Future. The aim of Green-Schools is to increase participant awareness of environmental issues through classroom studies and to transfer this knowledge into positive environmental action in the school and in the wider community.
Schools spend two years working on each of the following themes:
After successful completion of each theme the school can apply for the Green Flag Award. This award has now become a well-recognised Eco-Label and must be renewed every two years.
Learn about each of the seven Green-Schools steps and the work that goes into them.
Green Schools Committee: This directs the school’s involvement in the project. Ideally, the committee includes pupils, teachers, non-teaching staff, management, and parents.
Environmental Review: A process of examining the school's environmental impacts to identify targets for action and improvement.
Action Plan: This gives specific and achievable targets with proposed completion dates that will show real success.
Monitoring and evaluation: This will ensure that progress towards targets is checked, amendments made when necessary and success celebrated.
Curriculum work: Curriculum materials are provided and ideas on how to integrate environmental issues into lessons.
Informing and involving: A publicity programme keeps the school and wider community involved and informed through displays, assemblies and press coverage. A Day of Action involves the whole school and wider community in meeting your targets.
Establishing a green code: This is a statement of the schools’ commitment to environmental good habits.
11 Laois schools reaped the rewards of caring for the environment, when they were honoured at a Green Schools Awards ceremony in Kilkenny in May 2024. The Green Schools programme is celebrating 26 years working with primary and secondary schools across the country. This year, 12 awards ceremonies attended by 4,000 people were held in eight locations nationwide.
The Environmental Awareness Officer, Samantha McLeod, will organise events, workshops, and competitions for schools throughout the country. In addition, Laois County Council actively promotes and assists schools wishing to partake in the Green Schools Programme. If your school would like to get involved please have a look at the Green Schools Ireland website
You can also contact the Environmental Awareness Officer with any queries on 057 867 4341 or email smcleod@laoiscoco.ie
