Students’ excellent work wins national recognition.

YOUNG eco warriors from Honiton Community College have been recognised for their environmental work with a national award.

Students at the college received the Eco School Bronze Award, which is part of an international programme run by the Foundation for Environmental Education.

Assistant principal Iain Slade said: “It is brilliant. We can see that they have clearly got an appetite for it and they are much more aware of the issues than many adults.

“The Eco Schools programme is getting the children thinking about environmental issues and how to change their own environment.

“They are the ones who are going to be driving these issues forward in the future.”

As part of the Eco Schools’ programme, an eco council has been formed to discuss environmental issues around the college.

During a meeting last week, which symbolised the scheme’s official launch at the school, council members were given their green prefect badges.

Student Saphire Martin, who is a member of the eco council, said: “It feels quite nice to get some recognition for doing a job to help out in the college.”

Fellow student Jake Pratt said: “We have to make sure we have a safer today for a safer tomorrow.

“If we can make this school change, we can make anything change.”

Pupils from years seven, eight and nine are involved on the council and have already started working towards getting their silver award.

They will be carrying out an environmental review of departments around the school and make an action plan, as well as drawing up an eco and sustainability code, which they will present to the school governors.

The college hopes to progress further with the award scheme and will be working towards getting the Green Flag award, which is the top accolade.

Honiton Community College is currently looking to enhance its green credentials and is looking for people to help run and start up a school garden.

Mr Slade said: “We are looking for a few more people to get involved in running and setting up the garden.

“We are quite desperate for sponsorship.

“Because of the spending review, we don’t have the money to spend on gardening equipment and planting.”