My school are horribly unenvironmental.. how can I shock them into action

[robinpud]

Everything is photocopied; letters are sent out on an hourly basis to keep parents informed; if you stand still for too long you are likely to get laminated; recycling isn't happening properly; we spend over £100 a month on printer ink etc etc etc
Can you provide good financial reasons ( that's where the Head gets interested) as to why my colleagues should change.. or be forced to change?

Can you suggest a weekly letter for all pupils?

Laminated saves paper in the long run...it means once you've covered something you don't have to keep copying new paper ones.

is there a printer ink cartridge recyling company near you that you could get involved with?

TBH I think photocopying is a necessary evil in a school. I would be very surprised if they didn't have recling bins for paper to minimise wastage.

A lot of schools are texting and/or emailing parents now instead of sending letters; should be cheaper if the head will agree to it.

Does the school recycle at all? We have started to, although the cleaners made a huge fuss when we started it as it meant there was more for them to have to carry.

I have managed to cut down on how much photo-copying the deputy head does at least now and she always emails info now instead of endless memos, saying "I've been listening to Janeite and...." unfortunately not many people have followed suit yet.

they should be working towards eco-schools status

Trawl through that and you'll get all the arguments you need. Also, if you really want to make a nuisance of yourself, get in touch with your local authority and ask to speak to the eco-schools co-ordinator. Ask his/ her advice. Get him/ her on the school's case.

Oh and forgot to say, they get grants for being eco schools, but I don't know much about it - eco school person at your LA will be able to tell you.

Sorry- should have said we spend over £1500 a month on printer ink- which would be a TA's salary ..

The only way we are going to change is by making it clear to the Head that there is an impact on his budget; he isn't bothered about eco school status- we have enough awards already.

He will get a grant.

Also all the eco stuff like using e-mail, cut down enormously on paper and ink bills and also labour costs - it takes time to photocopy and fold 200 letters.

There are inclusion implications re e-mail groups, but you can still have paper stuff for parents who opt for it.

First: Sum up all the ideas and a rough amount you think would be saved by eco measures, present it to the Head and then you should be able get his tacit support for action- its a win win.

Find someone (you??) who is willing to be responsible for starting to change things.

Finally, and most importantly get the kids onto it, start an eco club and get them nagging about paper wastage etc, they are in the right, full of unflagging enthusiasim, ideas you might not have thought of and difficult to ignore.

Our school now uses something called ParentMail to communicate with parents. We get all the usual newsletters, dinner menus etc etc by email, although I think you can get texts too for some things.

DCSF aims for all schools to be sustainable by 2020. There is guidance on this, including a self evaluation toold for schools to use at www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools