Eco Schools

This year The Downs has registered as an Eco-School. To achieve full accreditation we have to prove that we have minimised our environmental footprint by adopting school-wide measures to reduce waste. We must also promote green values by improving our use of resources and creating an environment in which biodiversity can flourish.

The Committee

Our Eco Schools team comprises a chairman and the school council pupil representatives from each year group. In addition we have three school staff and a parent representative. Measures already put in place include a whole school recycling scheme for paper, cardboard, metal, glass and plastic.

Recycling

We recycle all food, fruit and vegetable waste into compost and there is extensive use of birdfeeders and an evaluation of wild areas. We use energy saving devices on all new school projects and purchases. We recycle printer cartridges, mobile phones, old cooking oil and unwanted spectacles. 

Grow our own

We are also extending the use of school gardens to allow more gardening plots and to grow more of our own food.

 Harvesting chard

Lift sharing and our School Transport Service

We know that many parents already share lifts but feel it could be extended in our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. By 2008 we will be required to have a full travel plan in place and we are pleased with the response we have already had to our lift sharing initiative. The school bus service has  been launched and routes will be extending to help more families when the new school opens in September.
For more information regarding school transport ...click here

Parental involvement

We encourage all parents to promote sound environmental values to their children by reducing waste at home and recycling as much as possible. The school's 'green stars' can be awarded to anyone who makes a positive contribution. 

Expert advice

The school has now acquired some expertise through working with specialist waste management consultants and our own highly experienced gardeners.


Forest Schools

Forest School will arrive at The Downs in September with our new Head of Pre Prep Mrs Jill Walters. Work has already started towards moving the outdoor classroom from the Malvern College Pre Prep site to The Downs and Miss Justina Cameron the Head of Early Years has taken on the responsibility of introducing Forest Schools to the youngest pupils which beautifully supports the current Montessori approach to learning.

What are Forests Schools?

' A Forest School is an innovative educational approach to ourdoor play and learning.'

The philosophy of Forest Schools is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences.

By participating in engaging, motivating and achievable tasks and activities in a woodland environment each participant has an opportunity to develop intrinsic motivation, sound emotional and social skills.

Forest Schools will aim to develop:
  • Self awareness
  • Self regulation
  • Intrinsic motivation
  • Empathy
  • Good social communication skills
  • Independence
  • A positive mental attitude, self esteem and confidence

The Forest School Site

Our site will be constructed in a clearing in the woodland behind the outdoor pool, in this way keeping the children safe whilst giving them opportunities to explore and incidently gain strength physically as well as become more balanced and coordinated.

The site will have space for a fire area, creative art, tool use, games, water collection and flora monitoring amoungst other ideas as well opportunites for construction such as seating areas around the fire and shelters for the damper outdoor lessons.

Older pupils

There will be opportunities for the Forest Schools experience to encompass the whole Prep School age range and this summer our Year 8 pupils will be involved in creating the basic site, clearing away the brambles and lower branches as well as physically moving equipment. This will be their community project which takes place after their exams are finished in the summer. Creating our Forest School will give them not only a physical challange but also help them feel that they have contributed to the development of the new school.
The Downs, Malvern College Prep, Brockhill Road, Colwall
MALVERN Worcestershire WR13 6EY
Tel: 01684 540277 Fax: 01684 540094
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