Thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of pupils and staff the Alderney school receives environmental recognition.

The Plastic Free programme aims to equip and empower young people to play an active part in changing their environment through working towards objectives set by the organisation Surfers Against Sewage.

A committee of pupils at St Anne’s led the rest of the school in the following activities to complete a number of objectives:

 Holding ‘Trash Mobs’ on the school site, at local beaches and in the wider island during activities week to remove plastic and litter from the community.

 Lobbying the States of Alderney and companies such as Haribo, Coca Cola and Walkers to ask them what they were doing about the amount of plastic found discarded.

 Stopping the use of plastic milk and water bottles in the school, and reducing the amount of plastic in lunch boxes.

 Recycling crisp packets.

 Hosting an assembly to secondary pupils about reducing plastics in school and the wider island.

 Introducing Darla the Dolphin to younger pupils, a soft toy being used to help explain the harmful effects of single use plastics.

In a letter to parents, Head Teacher Martin Windward said: “I think you will agree that the young people have made a real impression and it is
hoped this will continue to inspire us all to be ‘plastic’ aware. There is still more to do and we will continue our work to help keep our school site and local community as plastic free as possible.”

St Anne’s had support from the Alderney Wildlife Trust, the Alderney Farm Shop, Alderney Shipping and the States of Alderney to achieve its new status. Mr Windward also thanked Maria Collier for leading the initiative with colleagues across a number of curriculum areas in primary and secondary education.