A group of 30 green-fingered student volunteers from across all year groups and a member of staff at Bristol Metropolitan Academy are making a real difference with their Eco Club, adding wildlife, flora, and greenery to their bustling school community.

This eco-friendly project was started three years ago by science teacher Ms Lloyd in response to a request from a pupil. They found an area in the school that was already fenced off and decided to rewild it by clearing it of litter and asking the school grounds people not to mow it. As a result of that simple action, wildflowers sprung up; and with them pollinators and other invertebrates. They extended their actions to make bug houses and bird feeders and began a long campaign to install a pond, which they have now done. The wildlife area is slowly being populated by small plants and animals which the students are documenting in their science lessons.

Last year the ECO Club succeeded in achieving the Eco Schools Green Flag with Merit. This year the club has grown further to 30 members, and as well as maintaining the school allotment they have planted 105 trees in the wildlife area – quite an achievement!

The club has also been busy working with Modeshift Stars to formulate an active travel plan for the school. Six pupils went to City Hall to present their plan and see if they could win some funding, which they succeeded in doing. A cheque for £250 was handed over for the school and the pupils to implement their plan.

The club is currently working on a sensory garden at Glenside Museum in partnership with museum staff. They are also drawing up plans to create an outside classroom in the school grounds, and preparing for an eco day on 23 June where there will be lots of fun activities, outdoor learning and money raised for environmental charities.

Ms Lloyd said: “Eco Club is a magical hour in the week where like-minded students and staff get together and have fun outdoors, caring for the environment and each other. I’m so proud of what we have achieved together.”

The bravery and achievements of those involved in the Bristol Bus Boycott is being celebrated on the 60th anniversary of the movement. BBC Points West went along to King’s Oak Academy to talk to staff and students about this event and what impact it made, both at that time and to this current day.

Summerhill Academy, based in the heart of St George, has won a national green award for the way it encourages pupils to commute to school in a sustainable way to improve the health and well-being of children and young people.

Modeshift STARS is the national school’s awards scheme that has been established to recognise schools which have demonstrated excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable travel. The scheme encourages schools across the country to join in a major effort to increase levels of sustainable and active travel. Every school in England (outside of London) can participate in Modeshift STARS for free. On completion of an application for Modeshift STARS, schools will automatically have a brand new national standard school travel plan.

In addition to earning the award, Summerhill Academy came second in Bristol during the recent Big Walk and Wheel competition, encouraging even more families to use active, environmentally-friendly travel for their school commute. The school’s Eco-Committee is also working towards a Green Flag Award ‘Merit’ certificate, re-planting hedgerows on the school grounds and appointing energy monitors in every class.

Davinia Varela Lindley, Summerhill teacher and Active Travel Lead, said: “As a school we encourage greener, healthier ways to get to school. Working with the Modeshift team has helped us to provide assemblies on cleaner air, workshops and competitions such as the Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel. It’s great as we help the environment while also supporting children to be fit and healthy.

“We looked at the school site and made sure that we had everything in place, such as bike sheds, safe crossings, and sustainable ways to get to school safely. In addition to this, we merged learning in science to reinforce the message. But we are not stopping there – we have big plans for the future!”

What should have been an amazing trip of a lifetime for a group of students at Hans Price Academy nearly ended in cancellation, which would have left students, staff, and parents extremely disappointed.

107 students and 15 members of staff were due to spend a week skiing on the stunning slopes of the Italian ski resort of Bardonecchia but at 3.30pm on the Thursday, two days before the party were due to leave on the Saturday, the travel company phoned to say they had not booked the coaches planned for the journey. The company did promise a flight at this point and staff were informed full details would be shared the following day.

But when the day came, Charli Dale, Year 10 Raising Standards Leader at Hans Price, spoke to the company only to be informed disappointingly the trip was being cancelled as the travel company had no way to get staff and students to Italy. The firm instead offered full refunds, plus 50% of the cost for the disruption caused.

The offered refund was rejected, as Charli and Principal Tony Searle stressed to the travel company it was unacceptable as the school had more than 100 students desperate to go on the planned trip.

After much debate, the company eventually agreed it did have a flight ready to go but needed time to sort coaches. So, at 4pm on Friday afternoon, the company managed to organise coaches for both legs of the journey from Hans Price to the airport and travel the other side in Italy. The trip eventually departed on Sunday on an 8.30am flight from Stansted Airport, a day later than the planned departure date.

The trip returned earlier on the Saturday morning at 3.30am rather than the planned 8.30pm arrival, meaning the group lost half a day skiing because of the extra travel time and the need to catch the return flight – but students were still thrilled their adventure had been salvaged.

Trip organiser Charli Dale said: “Despite the chaos in the final 48 hours in the lead-up to departure, the trip was a huge success. The beginner skiers made incredible progress, we were blessed with plenty of sunshine and enough snow for the end of the winter season.

“It is the biggest school trip to date to run from Hans Price and all pupils were superb from start to finish.

“It was down to perseverance from the academy to make this happen and the support from lovely colleagues within Hans Price. I would also like to thank our parents for their kindness and support during what was an unpredictable time whilst the trip was taken out of our control.”

ENDS