At St Matthew's, we are committed to playing our part in protecting our planet by taking action on a small and big scale to increase recycling, reduce pollution, improve biodiversity and reduce our carbon footprint as a school. 

What is Eco Council?

Eco Council is a group of pupils from Year 5 and 6 who meet once a week after school to discuss eco-friendly and environmental issues within school and our community. So far, we have taken part in several litter picks, reported fly-tipping to the local council, emailed our local MP to ask for more litter bins outside our school and taken a survey of the KS2 building's energy usage.

Why do we have an Eco Council?

• To ensure our school is eco-friendly and prepares pupils to live with reflection of the environment
• To make sure the children have a platform to voice their opinions and take part in reducing carbon in our school
• To discuss and raise issues related to the environment

What are Eco Council currently focusing on?

As we begin this next academic year, we will take some time to reflect on our achievements from the Summer term 2025.

Over the holidays, we have also taken installation of our Wellbeing garden - a reflective space for all KS2 pupils to use during break and lunch times if they need a quiet moment away from the playground. This space will also be utilised during lessons to support learning about the environment, biodiversity and mindfulness. The first task Eco Council will undertake in the Autumn term is to fill the beautiful wooden planters with a variety of insect-loving plants and flowers. This will include hardy perrenials and evergreens to see us through the winter months and bulbs, seeds and plants that the whole school will see blossom as we reach Spring.

                 

 

On Thursday 16th October, Eco Club took a visit to B&Q in Halesowen with Miss Davies (Sustainability Lead) and Mr Tolley (Site Manager). They were greeted by Karen from B&Q Plant Centre who helped guide them to the kind of plants, flowers and bulbs that would be suitable for our Wellbeing garden. This included cordylines, heathers, herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage, lavendar and curry plant) and many more. Next time you visit the KS2 site, have a look and see what starts to grow!

                                  

 

In October and November, Eco Club have focused hard on planting everything we got on our trip to the garden centre. We think it has really brightened up the space and we are really excited to see what wildlife this will bring to our school! We are also thinking about what else we need to add to the space.

                        

On 13th November, Eco Club did a 5-minute litter pick challenge to see how much rubbish we could collect from Croxall Way and Windmill Lane. After this, we organised our litter by type (e.g. food waste, foil, soft plastics etc.) and created a pictogram in the school playground.

Since Eco Club started in May 2025, we have carried out 5 litter picks and it doesn't get any easier! We have to pick up the same sorts of litter every time. What could you do to help? We are going to write to Sandwell Council to ask for more bins on the paths around our school grounds and present an assembly to the other children in our school.

 

On Monday 24th November, 5 members of Eco Club attended an Eco Summit at Sandwell Council Chambers as part of Parliament Week 2025. While we were there, we took part in protest art in relation to climate change and what we want Sandwell to be like in 30 years time. We also worked with a charity called Act On Energy to learn a bit more about how renewable energy is the way forward! We set a brilliant example of our school and engaged in all the activities beautifully. Our teachers are incredibly proud to see us using our voices for positive change!