Awards praise eco-friendly schools

The fourth annual event, staged by the KM Charity Team at the Ashford International Hotel, celebrated the top eco projects carried out in schools and the wider community to inspire the next generation of green heroes.

Winners from Kent, Medway, Bexley, Sussex and London were roundly praised and presented with district awards for their hard work, ingenuity and dedication. Just seven schools were named overall champions for London and the South East.

Green School Awards 2019 from Inspire Schools on Vimeo.

Details of the winning projects have been collated in a best practice brochure and distributed to schools to encourage others to follow their lead. To download a free digital version, visit the Green School Awards website

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, said: “It’s apt that on Valentine’s Day we celebrated our love for the environment and everything that schools are doing to protect and conserve it.”

He added: “I would like to congratulate all of our winners, whose work is the epitome of ‘think global, act local’. They are equipping young people with the tools and enthusiasm to make a real difference - and creating green ambassadors of the future.”

Representatives from supporting organisations presenting the awards included the Kent, Medway, Ashford, Maidstone and Bexley councils plus ADM Computing, East Kent Recycling, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Kent Environmental Strategy, Eurostar, Farmwood, Golding Homes, Volker Highways, Countrystyle Recycling, Blessing by Blé, NCS Technology, Loop CR, and Specsavers.

The event included a performance from Priory Fields School Choir from Dover, who won last year’s Walk to School Song Contest. The children sang their version of the S Club 7 song ‘Reach’ - which they renamed ‘Reach for the Bus’ and featured their own lyrics. The song for this year’s competition is ‘Walking on Sunshine’ by Katrina and the Waves and is now open for entry at the KM Song Contest website

Schools can get involved with green initiatives - including the walk to school scheme Super Wow - at the KM Walk on Wednesday website

Overall Champions:

• London and South East Health and Wellbeing Champion - Kings Hill Primary School, West Malling
• London and South East Energy Conservation Champion - King’s Academy Ringmer, Lewes
• London and South East Green Travel Champion - Garlinge Primary School and Nursery, Margate
• London and South East Recycling Champion - St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Ashford
• London and South East Nature Conservation Champion - Shears Green Infant School, Northfleet
• London and South East Clean Air School Champion - Oasis Academy Skinner Street, Gillingham
• London and South East Green Champion - Great Chart Primary School, Ashford.

District Winners:

• Ashford:
  • Best Recycling School Award - St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School
  • Best Green Champion Award - Great Chart Primary School
  • Best School Crossing Patrol Award - Dorothy Quinn, Beaver Green Primary School
• Bexley:
  • Best Health and Wellbeing Award - Marlborough School, Sidcup
  • Best Green Travel Award - Peareswood Primary School, Erith
• Canterbury:
  • Best Recycling School Award - Swalecliffe Community Primary School
  • Best Green Champion Award - St Alphege Church of England Infant School
• Gravesham:
  • Best Green Champion Award - Northfleet School for Girls, Northfleet
  • Best Nature Conservation School Award - Shears Green Infant School
• Greenwich:
  • Best Recycling School Award - Woolwich Polytechnic School
• East Sussex:
  • Best Nature Conservation School Award - Baird Primary Academy, Hastings
  • Best Energy Conservation School Award - King’s Academy Ringmer, Lewes
  • Best Recycling School Award - St Richard’s Catholic College, Bexhill-on-sea
• Maidstone:
  • Best Energy Conservation School Award - Palace Wood Primary School
  • Best Clean Air School Award - Archbishop Courtenay Primary School
• Medway:
  • Best Green Travel Award - St Andrew’s School, Rochester
  • Best Recycling School Award - Lordswood School, Chatham
  • Best Clean Air School Award - Oasis Academy Skinner Street Gillingham
  • Best School Crossing Patrol Award - Jennifer Lewing, Barnsole Primary School, Gillingham
• Swale:
  • Best Recycling School Award for Faversham - Hernhill Church of England Primary School
  • Best Recycling School Award for Sheerness - St George’s Church of England Primary School
• Thanet:
  • Best Nature Conservation School Award - Palm Bay Primary School, Margate
  • Best Green Champion Award - Haddon Dene Preparatory School, Broadstairs
  • Best Green Travel Award - Garlinge Primary School and Nursery, Margate
• West Kent
  • Best Green Travel Award - West Malling Church of England Primary School, West Malling
  • Best Recycling School Award - Oakley School, Tunbridge Wells
  • Best Health and Wellbeing Award - Kings Hill Primary School, West Malling.

Contact Details

Karen Brinkman
Telephone: 08442 640291
Email: kbrinkman@thekmgroup.co.uk