Children leading the way in environmentally friendly practices have made their school one of the most sustainable in the country.

Thanks to the hard work of young eco-warriors, Ruislip Gardens Primary School in Stafford Road, has been awarded an Eco-Schools Green Flag.

Pupils and staff have helped to transform daily routines into practices that benefit the environment and save the school money.

Simple changes, such as ensuring all unnecessary lights are switched off and that paper, cans and other materials are recycled, have already reduced bills, but the unique group of
eco-warriors helped to clinch the award.

Children from each class are chosen for the job for one school year, and in that time they come up with a series of recycling challenges for their classmates.

Alison Sweeney, resources officer at the school, said: “We pick new eco-warriors each year so everyone gets a turn, and often lots of children put their hands up to get involved.”

Last year, 15 eco-warriors helped to make bags and cushions out of old T-shirts and jeans.

Headteacher Marc Titeux said: “Obtaining the Green Flag award is something that the whole school and the surrounding community can be proud of.

“Each pupil will be able to take away some degree of satisfaction in the knowledge that their actions have significantly altered their local environment.

“It has been a fantastic initiative for all involved but it is by no means over, as the greater challenge is to maintain what we have achieved so far and look towards ways of improving even further,” he said.

Managed in England by Keep Britain Tidy, Eco-Schools asks children to set up a committee involving pupils from all years to highlight areas that could be made more environmentally friendly.

The Eco-Schools assessor was impressed by the enthusiasm of children at Ruislip Gardens and their knowledge about the work they were doing for the environment, including producing an eco-warriors book to keep up to date with recycle initiatives in between committee meetings.