Green students clinch silver award

Students at Dereham Neatherd High have scooped a prestigious silver award by helping make their school greener.The Neatherd eco-committee got the Eco Schools silver award by making important changes to the school in attempt to make it more environmentally friendly.

Students at Dereham Neatherd High have scooped a prestigious silver award by helping make their school greener.

The Neatherd eco-committee got the Eco Schools silver award by making important changes to the school in attempt to make it more environmentally friendly.

The eco-committee consists of about 15 students and all are devoted to help Neatherd reduce its carbon footprint, recycle more and waste less.

There have been many significant changes to the school since the group have started up, including paper recycling baskets in every room, competitions encouraging biking and walking to school and there are also plans for a new bio mass boiler to be installed.

In 2005, the committee recorded that over two days the school threw out 25.7 kg of waste. This figure has been greatly reduced by the eco-committee as currently the school are throwing out only 8.5 kg of waste in the same period of time.

Louisa Scott, 11, who is in year seven, said she joined the committee because it was important to help the world last longer.

Teacher Joanna Stevenson, who runs the committee, said: 'It is a fantastic group and without the students we could not run it. They are very motivated and they have made a massive difference to the school.'

Headteacher Peter Devonish said: 'It is a really important achievement and I am really proud of the students have done.'