The Avenue Pre-Prep school in Highgate, which today has 85 children aged three to seven, has formed its own ‘eco’ committee made up of 15 Year 2 pupils.
It has met the awards criteria such as ‘scootability’ training, ‘walk and wheel Wednesdays’ for the school run, plastic-free lunches, tree planting and promoting ‘Water Saving’ week.
The youngsters — guided by their class teacher Katie Fischer — have focused on travel, water and marine sustainability.
“They are passionate about making a difference in school and spreading the message to the public,” Katie told the Ham & High. “The award recognises the children’s enthusiasm and commitment to save the planet that they inherit.”
The children set up an eco committee, meeting once a fortnight, which has come up with an action plan and finding ways to ‘spread the word’.
Its first task was writing The Avenue School’s own ‘Eco Code’ for different ways to make a greener place for learning.
Ten topics are covered — biodiversity, energy, global citizenship, healthy living, litter, marine, school grounds, transport, waste and water.
Elinor Blair, who chairs the parent-teacher association, said: “I can see that my son’s curiosity for the world around him being nurtured, to be a responsible-minded citizen as he grows up — whether helping me make choices in the shops with his keen eye for excess packaging, taking part in litter picks and growing things from seed.”
The Avenue is an independent school for pre-nursery children coming up to three and going on to seven years old in Year 2.
It has expanded from its modest child-minding days, moving to its present premises at Highgate Avenue with 45 children in 1989, now 85 youngsters enrolled in the large Edwardian house with its spacious garden where they roam freely in “a secure and stimulating environment”.
Avenue was first registered in 1977 with Haringey Council as a small child-minding group at the home of founder and principal Mary Fysh.
After getting the Eco award, she said: “Ecological awareness is a message to instil in this generation. We are continuing this message into the future.”
The school encourages self-reliance with extra-curricular activities like music, drama, dance, yoga and French, as well as woodwork, gardening and cookery.
Now it has added an ‘eco’ club teaching “responsible attitude” to the environment, with the Year 2 ‘eco warriors’ breaking up for the summer holiday and going on to their next schools taking the message.
