Breadcrumb Trail
Pupils follow 'green' path
An award-winning primary school in Trafford is making a difference by spreading its environment-friendly message at home and abroad.
Last year Woodheys Primary School in Sale was awarded first prize in the prestigious Ashden Award for energy conservation, and is going from strength to strength in finding ways of making their school more sustainable.
And this year, the school has taken the DCSF Sustainable Schools Award in the annual North West Teaching Awards.
The school, judged as 'outstanding' in an Ofsted report in 2007, is now playing a major role in promoting the benefits of having a healthy school environment by taking its message into the community and to other countries.
Trafford is already renowned for having some of the healthiest schools in the country with two thirds of the borough's schools gaining the government seal of approval for nutrition and fitness activities.
Head teacher Laura Daniels said the concept of caring is central to Woodheys' philosophy that 'every child matters'. She added: "As educators, we have a responsibility to foster caring children - and that means caring for our environment too.
"All the world's major faiths believe this and we can harness this interfaith commitment, too. The children are taking this message home and into the community."
Working with experts from Salford University, pupils helped design an outdoor labyrinth garden to help provide a healthy learning environment. Mrs Daniels explained that people walk labyrinths for stress relief, pain and anger management, as well as to promote focus and for meditation.
She added: "It's especially good for children, enabling them to do better at school and develop their latent talents."
But the school's positive energy labyrinth and wild area, which includes a pond, wormery and insect hotel, an all-weather sports pitch made from recycled tyres and wooden playground equipment, is also helping to inspire future generations around the world.
Last month, Mrs Daniels and Mrs Freda Eyden, the school's environmental project coordinator, visited schools in South Africa to present Woodheys' environmental work, and demonstrate how students can make a big difference in practical ways.
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