Eco Committee
St Luke’s Primary and Nursery is proud to have an Eco Committee made up of pupils who are supported by staff and guided by our commitment to caring for the world around us. Through age-appropriate projects and practical classroom and school initiatives, the committee helps children learn how to reduce waste, save energy and water, and make more sustainable choices in everyday life. We welcome parents to support these efforts by encouraging children to bring reusable items, sort household recycling where possible, and talk at home about what they are learning and how small actions can make a big difference. Together, we can help our children develop responsible habits, respect for the environment, and a sense of shared responsibility for our community.
Eco Committee
St Luke's Eco Group
Our Mission
"We believe that every child deserves to learn in an environment that respects our planet and prepares them to be responsible environmental citizens who can make a positive difference to our world."
At St Luke's Primary School, our Eco Group is dedicated to creating a sustainable, environmentally-conscious community where every child, family member, and staff member understands their role in protecting our planet. We work to ensure that environmental education and climate action are at the heart of everything we do.
What We Do
Our Eco Group leads initiatives throughout the year that promote sustainability, improve air quality, protect biodiversity, and empower our community to make environmentally friendly choices. We believe that environmental action should be woven into our everyday school life, creating lasting habits and understanding.
Our Work Includes:
Sustainable Transport & Active Travel
- Bikeability training for all year groups – from balance bike training for Reception and Year 1 (with 6 balance bikes funded and purchased for our youngest learners) through to Level 1 and 2 Bikeability courses for older pupils
- Active travel promotion – ensuring all school trips walk or take public transport
- TfL workshops for Year 6 – teaching pupils about using public transport safely and confidently
- Winner of Newham Better Points competition – recognised as the most active school for promoting active travel
- Dr Bike events – sharing information with families about free bike safety checks in the community
Clean Air & Environmental Health
- London Clean Air Initiative partnership – hosting Clean Air Day events and activities
- Mayor's Clean Air Initiative pilot – installing air quality filters in every classroom
- Air quality assemblies – educating pupils about pollution and how to reduce it
- SUDS planters and green wall of ivy – maintaining living infrastructure that improves air quality around our school
- Parents Energy Advice Coffee Morning – partnering with Community Energy Newham to support families with energy-saving advice
Renewable Energy & Sustainability
- Solar panel installation – new solar panels installed this year, with filming to document the project
- Solar power workshops with E.ON engineers – pupils created solar-powered model cars and learned about renewable energy technology
- Zero Carbon Schools Project (Year 3) – accessing training and resources to reduce our carbon footprint
Biodiversity & Outdoor Learning
- Environmental area review – comprehensive assessment of our school grounds leading to action planning
- Pollinator homes and minibeast habitats – creating safe spaces for wildlife
- School garden planting – growing strawberries, potatoes, onions, garlic, beans and sunflowers
- Grape vine maintenance – trimming and caring for our established vines
- Climbing plants project – planting climbers around our friendship benches to create green spaces
- London Beekeepers Association visit – hosting a beekeeper to teach pupils about the vital role of bees
- Owl assembly – learning about these incredible creatures and their role in our ecosystem
Community Partnerships & Projects
- Outdoor Classroom Day – planning and delivering outdoor learning experiences
- Rosetta Arts partnership – collaborating on creative environmental projects
- Growbox urban gardening projects – connecting with other schools and organisations to share best practice in urban growing
- Get Set for Summer Challenge – promoting outdoor family activities that reduce screen time and energy use
Pupil Leadership
- Friendship bench restoration – pupils sanding and repainting benches to extend their life and reduce waste
- Regular Eco Group meetings – giving pupils a voice in environmental decision-making
- Whole-school campaigns – leading assemblies and initiatives to engage the entire school community
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Our Partnerships
We're proud to work with a range of organisations committed to environmental education and climate action:
- Zero Carbon Schools Project – supporting us to reduce our carbon footprint
- London Clean Air Initiative – improving air quality in and around our school
- Mayor of London Clean Air Programme – piloting air quality monitoring and filtration
- Community Energy Newham – providing energy advice to our families
- E.ON – delivering renewable energy education workshops
- Transport for London (TfL) – promoting safe, sustainable travel
- London Beekeepers Association – connecting pupils with urban wildlife conservation
- Rosetta Arts – creative environmental education
- Growbox – urban gardening expertise and school network connections
- Newham Better Points – rewarding active travel choices
Get Involved
We welcome involvement from all members of our school community. Whether you're a pupil, parent, carer, staff member, or governor, your ideas and actions matter.
Ways to Get Involved:
- Join our Eco Group – pupils can apply to become Eco Group representatives for their class
- Support our projects – volunteer time or expertise for gardening, planting, or maintenance days
- Travel actively – walk, cycle, scoot or use public transport for the school run
- Share your ideas – we have an eco suggestions box where you can highlight areas for improvement
- Attend our events – look out for information about upcoming assemblies, workshops and community events
- Make changes at home – talk to your children about what they're learning and continue these important environmental actions as a family
Our Commitment
We're committed to:
- Making St Luke's a place where environmental education is embedded across the curriculum
- Taking meaningful action to reduce our carbon footprint and improve our local environment
- Giving pupils the knowledge, skills and confidence to be environmental leaders
- Working in partnership with families and community organisations
- Monitoring our impact and continuously improving our practice
- Preparing our pupils to be responsible global citizens who understand their role in protecting our planet
Our Impact This Year
✅ Transport: Bikeability training delivered to all year groups; 6 balance bikes purchased; won Newham Better Points competition
✅ Air Quality: Air filters installed in every classroom; SUDS planters and green wall maintained; Clean Air Day hosted
✅ Energy: Solar panels installed; solar power workshops delivered; enrolled in Zero Carbon Schools Project
✅ Biodiversity: Environmental area review completed; new pollinator homes and minibeast habitats created; school garden expanded with 6 different crops planted
✅ Community Engagement: Parents Energy Advice Coffee Morning hosted; Dr Bike information shared; beekeeper and owl education sessions delivered
✅ Partnerships: Outdoor Classroom Day planned; Rosetta Arts and Growbox collaborations established; TfL Year 6 workshops completed
✅ Pupil Leadership: Friendship benches restored; Eco Group meetings held regularly; whole-school assemblies delivered
Upcoming Projects
- Outdoor Classroom Day activities
- Further urban gardening projects with Rosetta Arts and Growbox
- Continued partnership work with Community Energy Newham
- Expansion of our pollinator-friendly planting
- More active travel campaigns and celebrations