Latest News: BREAKING: The Blue Recovery: Our response to the Summer Economic Update Become a Member Today
Home > Plastic Free Schools

Plastic Free Schools

POWER TO THE PUPILS!

Plastic Free Schools is a SYSTEM SHAKING, change making pupil led education programme.

This groundbreaking programme equips and empowers young activists with the tools to create positive, lasting environmental change.

Created to hit key curriculum targets from KS1 – KS3, our five ‘Objectives’ guide students through the plastic free schools process in an easy to understand, purposeful and fun way!

Scroll on for inspiring films, resources, answers and inspiration to help you on your Plastic Free Schools journey.

Plastic Free Schools and the Coronaviurs (COVID-19) Pandemic

Here at Surfers Against Sewage we believe that nothing should come between young people and their education. In these challenging times, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we are working hard to provide support and resources to teachers, pupils and those caring for young people at home.

We have to adapt and be creative. School closures and social distancing measures pose challenges to the Plastic Free Schools programme and, understandably, environmental education may take a backseat. Whether teachers complete the programme with students who are still attending school, deliver it remotely or start it when schools reopen, Team Education is here to support everyone. 

There is no time-limit on completing this programme so even if you don’t think you can deliver this programme until schools reopen it’s still worth signing up. 

Teachers or school staff who sign-up during this time will be sent a special digital welcome pack  with everything they need to get started.

We will also continue to send out our monthly newsletter full of inspirational stories of hope and joy and any additional resources we can offer during this time. 

Until the end of July, we will be hosting live lessons on our Facebook and Instagram pages as part of our Digital Ocean School programme. Head over to the Digital Ocean School page to find out more.

STEP 1: IT'S TIME REGISTER TO BECOME A PLASTIC FREE SCHOOL!

To begin your schools’ journey to Plastic Free Status simply fill out these boxes and our education team will then be in touch to guide you through the process.

Key moments in your Plastic Free Schools journey:

  • YOU – Sign-up TODAY!
  • WE – Send your welcome email.
  • WE – Digitally send you resources. (We are unfortunately unable to post welcome packs at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic).
  • WE – Send monthly emails with; news, case studies, tips & tricks.
  • YOU – Send us your progress evidence and assets.
  • WE – Officially award your Plastic Free Schools Status upon completion of all 5 Objectives.
  • YOU – Receive your awesome PFS plaque and we all celebrate.

Please note, we can only accept sign-ups from teachers or other members of schools staff. We are also only able to accept sign-ups from schools based in the UK.

By clicking on the “Subscribe” button, you are indicating that you have read, understood, and agree to Surfers Against Sewage Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

*By registering you agree for your contact details to be stored in compliance with GDPR data protection laws and for SAS to use your data to communicate with you concerning our education programs.

STEP 2: WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

Hear from Jack, our amazing Community Manager, about the work we and our incredible community of over 100,000 volunteers are doing, from our playgrounds to Parliament, to protect our oceans, waves, beaches and wildlife!

STEP 3: 'SECRET BROADCASTS' - PUPILS TELL THEIR OWN PLASTIC FREE SCHOOLS STORIES.

challenging pupils to TAKE THE LEAD IN CREATING CHANGE.

We’ve worked with some of our Plastic Free Schools to create a series of awesome ‘Secret Broadcasts’ for schools to use as inspiration as you work through the programme.

BROADCAST 1: PLASTIC POLLUTION CRISIS

BROADCAST 2: POWER TO THE PUPILS!

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF YOUR VOICE!

Plastic Free Schools helps children realise the power of their voice. By taking tangible actions to reduce the single use plastic footprint of their school and wider community they inspire themselves and those around them to ever greater achievements.

CREATING REAL CHANGE FROM OUR PLAYGROUNDS TO PARLIAMENT.

In December 2018 the Education Secretary Damian Hinds urged all schools to eliminate their use of single use plastics by 2022, highlighting the Plastic Free Schools programme as a leading campaign;

“On my first school visit as Education Secretary almost a year ago, the very first question I was asked by a pupil was what we can do to limit the damage of plastic on the environment……”

BROADCAST 3: PUPIL POWER IN THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

STEP 4: DOWNLOAD OUR 2019 PLASTIC FREE SCHOOLS 'KICK START' ASSEMBLY PRESENTATION AND SCRIPT.

Downloads

STEP 5: DOWNLOAD OUR PLASTIC FREE SCHOOLS LESSON PLANS

Take the conversation of single-use plastic and its environmental implications a step further in your classroom. There are five lesson plans each for key stage 2 and key stage 3 which explore how and why we use plastic, what happens to it once we’re done and how it’s affecting our coastlines.

Lesson Plans for Key Stage 2

Lesson Plans for Key Stage 3

STEP 6: PLASTIC FREE SCHOOLS CASE STUDIES & RESOURCES: TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS!

THE FIRST EVER PLASTIC FREE SCHOOL!

Georgeham Primary School, in beautiful North Devon share their journey to becoming the UK’s first Plastic Free School.

PUPIL LED PRESENTATIONS

Form 7 of St Mary’s School in Melrose in the Scottish Borders created this awesome Plastic Pollution presentation and script. Please feel free to download and adapt them for your school.

PUPIL POWER AT THE HEART OF GOVERNMENT!

Hear from the irrepressible Portreath School Plastic Free Schools Committee after their presentation to MPs at the Houses of Parliament.

PLASTIC FREE SCHOOLS FAQs

Q. What does ‘Plastic Free’ mean?

A. We do not expect schools to be totally plastic free. Our aim is to free where we live from single-use plastic: the avoidable stuff that’s everywhere. Things like plastic drinks bottles, disposable coffee cups, sachets, bathroom plastics, excessive food packaging, takeaway containers etc. These are the things that are having a huge impact on our environment and which we can make changes in our lives to eliminate. Take a look at our list of ‘The Offenders’ HERE for the kind of items we mean. It’s time to kick our single-use addiction

Q. Can you come and give a talk about how we can reduce our use of plastic?

A. Because we are such a small team here in the office and are unable to attend one off talks and events such as this, we have developed our Plastic Free Schools programme which enables us to engage with hundreds of schools all across the country to inspire pupils to tackle single-use plastic.

Plastic Free Schools is a pupil led programme and what better time for students to take the lead than right at the beginning? NONE! So, please feel free to download our ‘KICKSTARTER ASSEMBLY – PRESENTATION AND SCRIPT’ from STEP 4: above and use them help kick-start your journey!

Q. How does the Plastic Free Schools programme work?

A. Plastic Free Schools is a pupil led initiative designed to guide your school through the process of ditching single-use plastic. In your Plastic Free Schools pack, you will receive five objective cards for the school to follow in order to reach Plastic Free Schools Status. You will also receive everything you need for a litter pick (sacks, gloves etc.) which will form part of objective 2.

As your school completes the objectives, all you need to do is provide us with photographic evidence and short updates on each objective. Once you’ve completed everything your school will achieve Plastic Free Schools Status and you will have been part of an incredible movement all across the country to eradicate single-use plastic from our schools and our environment

Q. We are a school based outside the UK, can we still take part in Plastic Free Schools?

A. At this time, we are only able to offer this programme to UK based schools. However, we are delighted to hear that you are wanting to take steps to reduce the use of single-use plastics and although we are unable to get you signed up to the programme, please feel free to use the information on our website as a source of inspiration to make changes in your school too!