Eco-Schools Programme Celebrates 30 Year Anniversary

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Peter Byrne, was delighted to join local schools for the annual Eco-Schools Awards ceremony at Stranmillis College, Belfast. The Eco-Schools Programme, a renowned global initiative led by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), promotes sustainable living through whole class action. Every year it recognises schools with the presentation of the top award of the coveted Green Flag.

The ceremony organised by Eco-SchoolsNI, and supported by RiverRidge and Translink, was particularly special as the Eco-Schools Programme celebrates its thirtieth anniversary.

Over these thirty years the Green Flag has been awarded an extraordinary 2253 times to schools across Northern Ireland.

This year thirty-four schools in Newry, Mourne and Down District Council achieved the Green Flag Award. Being a recipient of the prestigious flag demonstrates that each school is committed to making environmental action and sustainability an intrinsic part of their pupils’ education and the whole school community.

To recognise the dedication of teachers, pupils and schools a number of additional awards are presented. This year the award for Eco-School of the Year, sponsored by Nexus, went to Glasswater Primary School. The Eco-School Teacher of the Year and Eco-School Pupil of the Year awards was a double presentation with teacher Rob Belt and pupil Leo McQuaid, both from Bessbrook Primary School, receiving the awards sponsored by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Pete Byrne said “I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our schools for the effort they have all put in to reach Green Flag status, the highest award in in the Eco-Schools Programme. Your dedication to continually strive to improve your environmental performance, year on year, is something to be proud of and is an example to us all. Congratulations to Glasswater Primary and Bessbrook Primary Schools who have gone that extra mile this year culminating in their well-deserved awards. Well done also to all of our green flag winners. I hope to be able to visit in person some of your schools during my year in Office to see for myself the environmental work you have been undertaking”.

Carol Forster, Head of Business Development at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said, “Our journey over the past 30 years has been remarkable. I commend our schools across Northern Ireland for their steadfast commitment in inspiring young people to care for the world around them. We’ve seen countless young people grow into environmentally conscious citizens, equipped with the knowledge and passion to make a difference.

“This event not only serves as a platform to celebrate our continued achievements, but also as an urgent reminder on how important it is to continue to inspire and invest in our youth to ensure that future generations actively participate in environmental stewardship. We’re grateful to all our partners for their continued support and strongly encourage more schools to join the programme to give every child in Northern Ireland the opportunity to get involved.”

Rob Belt, Eco-Co-ordinator at Bessbrook Primary School and winner of the Eco-School Teacher of the Year award, explained, “Eco-Schools has changed how our young people see and engage with their environment. It integrates environmental awareness and action into all fabrics of day-to-day school life. Retaining our Green Flag status is tremendously important to our school as it is a benchmark that tells us we’re doing good by our students and by the environment”.

Dr David McKee at Stranmillis University College said, “It's essential we continue to integrate environmental education into teacher training in Northern Ireland, to ensure that new teachers are equipped with the tools and the knowledge needed to strengthen our collective performance in Eco-Schools.”

Leo McKillion of RiverRidge, Northern Ireland’s leading waste and resource management company said, “We were delighted to be involved in this event. It is vital that we continue to both educate and listen to the next generation as we all strive to live in a more sustainable world. RiverRidge believes that schools play a key role in changing the environment by reducing waste and treating it as a valuable resource. Let’s keep working together to spread the word and change behaviour.”

The thirty-four schools from the Newry, Mourne and Down district to receive their Green Flags in 2024 were:

• Annsborough Integrated Primary School  
• Assumption Grammar School
• Ballyholland Primary School
• Ballynahinch Primary School 
• Bessbrook Primary School
• Blackwater Integrated Primary School
• Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche, Castlewellan
• Dromintee Primary School
• Glasswater Primary School
• Killyleagh Integrated Primary School
• Knockevin SEN
• Mullaglass Primary School
• Sacred Heart Grammar School
• Sacred Heart Primary School, Dundrum
• Seaview Nursery School 
• Spa Primary School
• St Brigids Primary School, Downpatrick
• St Bronagh's Primary School
• St Clare’s Abbey Primary School 
• St Colman's Primary School, Saval
• St Colmcille's Primary School
• St Dallan's Primary School
• St Joseph's High School, Crossmaglen
• St Joseph’s Primary School, Bessbrook
• St Joseph's Primary School, Strangford
• St Joseph’s Primary School, Meigh
• St Louis Grammar School
• St Malachy's Primary School, Kilclief
• St Marks High School 
• St Mary's High School, Newry
• St Mary's Primary School, Downpatrick
• St Patrick's Primary School, Hilltown
• St Patrick’s Primary School, Newry
• St Teresa's Primary School