Prince’s Mead Awarded Eco‑Schools Green Flag with Distinction for Third Consecutive Year
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Prince’s Mead is proud to announce that we have once again been awarded the Eco‑Schools Green Flag with Distinction, marking our third consecutive year achieving the highest level of recognition. This award celebrates the school’s sustained commitment to environmental action, pupil leadership and a curriculum that inspires responsibility for the planet.
Eco‑Schools praised the school’s creativity, ambition and whole‑community involvement. In their official report, they highlighted:
“Your greatest success this year has definitely been the STEAM day… It created a buzz of shared learning and helped pupils see how their actions connect to a much bigger picture.”
This year’s award reflects a wide range of projects led by pupils, staff and families. Here are some of the key initiatives that contributed to our success:
1. Boosting Biodiversity Across the School Grounds
Our Green Team set out to increase habitats for wildlife and encourage pollinators. Pupils carried out The Big Pond Dip, scoring the health of our pond and monitoring changes throughout the year. They also built bug hotels in the woodland area, cared for our bird houses, and took part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, sharing their findings with the school community. Footprint tunnels and night‑vision cameras helped pupils track visiting wildlife, sparking huge excitement.
2. Growing Our Own: Orchard and Greenhouse Projects
Healthy living and sustainable food were major themes this year. Pupils helped the initiative to build a new greenhouse, which was kindly donated by our PMA, and plant an orchard, both of which will support hands-on gardening for years to come. Next year, classes will monitor how often the greenhouse is used and whether the orchard produces its first fruit.
3. Celebrating Healthy Living and Mental Wellbeing
The school held a vibrant Mental Health Week, during which every pupil contributed a handmade heart to a whole‑school mural. Our dining team continued to champion meat‑free options, using produce grown in our own vegetable patch. Mental health is monitored through wellbeing surveys, and the school continues to see high levels of pupil happiness and engagement.
4. Sustainable Fashion STEAM Day
One of the standout moments of the year was our whole‑school STEAM Day, where pupils from Nursery to Year 6 explored sustainable fashion. Using pre‑loved clothing, they designed new outfits and showcased them on a catwalk. Parents, visitors and even other schools joined the event, creating a powerful sense of shared purpose and creativity.
5. Curriculum Links That Inspire Global Citizens
Eco‑Schools praised our strong curriculum connections. Year 6 pupils completed an eco‑house project, researching sustainable home design and presenting their ideas through models, Minecraft builds and even a cake creation. Year 2 explored the rainforest, learning about biodiversity and why protecting habitats matters; a unit that sparked deep curiosity and thoughtful discussion.
6. Pupil Leadership and Whole‑School Involvement
Our Green Team has been exceptionally active: conducting inspections, leading litter picks, promoting Cut Your Carbon Week, and proudly wearing their crochet leaf badges to raise awareness. They also created posters encouraging staff to reduce laminating and reminding everyone to switch off lights and screens.
Regular updates on the Eco‑Board, in The Link newsletter, and on Facebook and Instagram ensured the whole community stayed informed and involved.
Media Spotlight on Our Eco Achievements
Following the announcement of our Eco‑Schools Green Flag with Distinction, we were delighted to welcome That’s TV to Prince’s Mead last week. Their team filmed two segments celebrating our environmental work — one on our Eco‑Schools success and another showcasing our RHS‑accredited garden and wider sustainability initiatives.
Pupils from across the school took part, helping to demonstrate the hands‑on learning and leadership that make our eco programme so special. Whether speaking on camera or appearing in the background, they represented the school brilliantly.
We would also like to thank Lucy Brown, Head of Pre‑Prep and Early Years, and Jemma Chinappen, Head of Science, for supporting the visit and sharing their insight into our environmental ethos.
Both features aired on Freeview channel 7 last week, and we are pleased to share them below for our whole community to enjoy.
Looking Ahead
Prince’s Mead is immensely proud of this achievement. Earning Distinction for a third consecutive year reflects the passion, creativity and commitment of our pupils, staff and families. Together, we continue to build a school where sustainability is lived, celebrated and shared.
