2023 Sustainability Star Robin Anthony and Louise Carter of Prospect House Specialist Support Primary School
Prospect House Primary School understands that prioritising sustainability in school is prioritising students’ futures.
Prospect House have gone the extra mile to ensure their school is as sustainable as possible. They introduced Meat-Free Mondays, as well as offsetting their meat consumption with plant-based meal alternatives (with students embracing this change whole-heartedly!).
As well as regular recycling areas, they also have a food waste station that measures the school’s daily food waste, so they can tweak menu options according to student’s tastes and minimise waste. Food caddies in every classroom also ensure all food waste in school is recycled. There’s even an ‘Eco Warriors’ termly theme, which encourages children to think about sustainability outside of school by looking at areas of food, health, nature (biodiversity), energy, recycling, transport and climate.
Outside of the school building they’re growing ingredients they can use in the school kitchen, compost bins decompose any food and garden waste – and let’s not forget the two therapy pigs Sebastian and Dolores, who eat any leftover fruit and veg, and help the children learn about how to look after animals.
Judged by Greg James, presented by Demi Stokes
We chatted to Robin and Louise…
What did it mean to you, winning the award?
It’s the recognition, I think. We know sustainability is a really important message, so to share it with the children and then be recognised for that is really special and something we’re really thankful for.
What has happened since you won in 2023?
Louise and I have set up the Green Schools Network in Manchester, which is a group of schools that come together to discuss all things sustainability. We were also awarded an Eco-Schools Green Flag with distinction, which we’re so proud of. And to join our therapy pigs, Sebastian and Delores, we now have two chickens, Pepsi and Shirley, whose eggs go into the school kitchen. We’ve even been recognised out in public after being on The One Show!
What things really work in your school?
The children on the Eco Council, who do jobs around the school – collecting the caddies, looking after the pigs and chickens, helping to sort the recycling bins – are so enthusiastic and they’re really engaged. We now find that the younger children are copying the older kids and putting things in the right bins.
Some classes also go to the local community garden to help out. It’s important for them to get their hands dirty. I think a lot of our children think potatoes come from the supermarket, so it’s good to show them that we can grow them in the ground and watch that process, then make mashed potatoes and healthy crisps from them to show where it’s all coming from.
What easy wins can schools follow?
Start small, then it will snowball from there. Get compost caddies for every classroom, then anything from snack time goes straight into the caddie. If you can, try to grow your own fruit and veg that can be enjoyed in the classroom. Also, at lunchtimes, notice what food is getting wasted, so you can tailor your menu to what the kids like and reduce waste.
What are your goals for 2024?
It’s to share our message with absolutely everyone we can. It’s really important to bring parents on the journey too, so we want to involve more this year. We’re also going to change ‘Meat-Free Monday’ to ’Climate-Change Monday’, because ‘meat-free’ sounds like children are missing out on something. And ultimately teach young people about 21st-century modern Britain, about sustainability and climate change. I think that’s really important.
What is your secret?
Me and Louise work so well together – it’s the perfect partnership! We’re both really passionate about climate and sustainability, and we understand that we need to educate the youngsters about it, because they’ll be the ones dealing with the results. We’ve made the changes in our personal lives, so we can be good role models. I now can’t eat pork because of our wonderful pigs.
If you could make one change, what would it be?
Catch the children as young as you can – rather than trying to fix habits or behaviours in secondary school, starting to educate them about this from those early years is going to reap many more benefits for the future. The kids go home and get the parents involved too, which is great.
To find out more about Robin and Louise’s green schools network, visit the Prospect House website