Chippenham pupils' green award (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Chippenham pupils' green award

11:40am Friday 16th May 2008

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Students at Abbeyfield School in Chippenham have won national recognition for being environmentally aware.

The school is the first in the south to receive a Global Schools Award for raising student's awareness of global issues.

The national curriculum was enhanced to cover key concepts such as human rights, diversity, sustainable development and social justice.

Humanities teacher Matthew Palmer said: "The Global Schools Award celebrates the wonderful achievements of our students. It illustrates their great potential as the next generation of leaders of this country."

As part of the project, pupils had to promote recycling at the school and get involved with local charity groups.

A group of Year 8 students also put on an O Day, which was an awareness campaign connected to rainforest deconstruction.

They put up displays, held an assembly and tried to come up with simple solutions that could be achieved by anyone to help reduce the problem.

Headteacher Trish Shubrook said: "Our students have the opportunity to become active citizens through this award scheme.

"It is essential that the adults of tomorrow have a sound understanding of the world beyond our shores if we are to live in peace and prosperity in the future."

News of the award came days before the school managed to raise £2,000 for their partner school in The Gambia.

Staff and students who took part in the most recent trip to Africa in December decided to auction off the pictures and paintings they had taken during their trip.

They were sold at the Wessex Chamber Breakfast last month and then at a silent auction at the school last week.

The money will help fund the work to be undertaken during the school's next trip, where the focus will predominately on physical education and maths.

Local businesses are now being called upon to help supply materials that can be used in these two subject areas.

Anyone interested should contact Ms Walby at Abbeyfield School on (01249) 464500.

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