At Eco-Schools, students are at the heart of the programme. They form the core of the Eco-Team, contribute ideas, take initiative and take responsibility. By actively involving students, sustainability becomes meaningful and visible throughout the school. This strengthens their sense of ownership and creates learning that extends beyond the classroom.
Students are empowered
Through Eco-Schools, students experience that their ideas and actions can make a difference. The Eco-Schools approach is positive and hopeful. And it delivers results: 85% of schools report sustainable change since joining the programme. Students:
> Become active agents of change
> Develop knowledge, skills, values and attitudes
> Are engaged through a positive and hopeful approach
Coherence across school
Many schools address sustainability an occasional basis. Eco-Schools helps create coherence between school plans, activities and lessons. This gives sustainability a permanent place within the school, aligned with ambitions and culture. The school:
> Takes an integrated approach to sustainability (Whole School Approach)
> Takes structured and continuous steps towards sustainability
> Makes sustainability a shared responsibility
Everyone gets involved
Throughout the process, the Eco-Team involves everyone in and around the school: from students and teachers to local organisations and parents. The community:
> Creates opportunities for active citizenship
> Can enrich education through real-world sustainability challenges
> Experiences the school’s positive contribution to the community
Global recognition
Eco-Schools is managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), and the Green Flag is recognised as a sustainability certification by the United Nations. Internationally, Eco-Schools:
> Gives your school recognition as a sustainable school
> Enables you to collaborate with other Eco-Schools
> Helps create a powerful global movement for sustainability
Recognised activity within the Dutch Healthy School programme
Participation in Eco-Schools is a recognised activity within the Dutch Healthy School programme, under the theme Environment and Nature. Here you can find more information for primary education and secondary education.