Two groups of eco-friendly students have been rewarded for their sustainable successes with tickets to visit the Olympic Park and the EDF Energy London Eye.
Two schools visit the Olympic Park!
14 Jun 2011
Eco-friendly students have been rewarded for their sustainable successes!
The schools were selected as a result of their committment to sustainability. The schools have created active eco-councils and they promote recycling, switching electrical items off standby and growing vegetables in the school allotments. Pluckley School is developing a pond and nature area and the school also shares green ideas with their linked school in Malawi.
EDF Energy, awarded five sets of tickets to visit the Olympic Park and the EDF Energy London Eye to Pluckley Primary School in Kent and 5 sets to Birdham Primary School in West Sussex to reward their successful application to the Get Set network through their work on The Pod, EDF Energy’s programme for greener schools.
The Pod is an online education programme that helps children learn about environmental issues and offers resources to help teachers and students save energy and cut carbon footprints. It is also a key component of the official London 2012 education programme – ‘Get Set’. Schools are encouraged to use their participation in The Pod to support their application to join the Get Set network to access further reward and recognition.
The students made their trip to London on 8 June 2011. They visited the Velodrome, athletes’ village, the international broadcast centre and the Olympic Stadium, with a tour guide offering fun facts and activities to take part in throughout the visit.
One of the students from Pluckley Primary school said “I think the Olympic Park was amazing and I think it will be even better when it’s finished. I enjoyed going to London for the day, It was a day to remember.”
Kerry Sheldrick a teacher from Pluckley primary school said: “We had a great time. The children were glued to the bus windows at the Olympic Park and were particularly impressed with ‘The Pringle’, otherwise known as the Velodrome. The whole experience really made the Olympics come alive for the children and they can’t wait to tune in next year so they can say ‘I was there!’
“The students were very interested to hear that after the Games 90 per cent of the materials used in the buildings to be demolished will be recycled. The visit has really inspired the children to continue with their sterling work on sustainability at the school.”
Peter Johnson, Headteacher of Birdham Pirmary School, was really impressed with the visit. He said: “We enjoyed a super day out. As a school that works hard to promote sustainability we could see for ourselves why the London venue is being hailed as the “greenest” Olympic Games to date. The site is incredible considering that only three years ago much of the land was very run down. The whole Olympic Park has got our full approval, and it made us feel proud to be British.”
EDF Energy is using the inspirational qualities of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to bring environmental issues to life for young people, helping to create a lasting sustainability legacy for the Games. Through The Pod schools are provided with a platform to share ideas and showcase their ‘green’ achievements.
