Damers First School are among the winners in the Education Business Awards which have recently been announced, with schools across the UK recognised for the dedication and hard work of teaching and support staff who have been put under particular pressure by the COVID 19 pandemic.
The Education Business Awards, sponsored by LocknCharge, have been recognising and celebrating school success stories since 2006. This year, due to social distancing restrictions, they were presented live online on 26 November by award-winning comedy impressionist and classically-trained singer Jess Robinson, who was joined live by voiceover artist and impressionist Darren Altman.
Sponsoring the awards this year were LocknCharge, Emotional Logic, PFU – a Fujitsu Company, Office Depot, Randstad Education, TG Escapes, and Churches Fire & Security.
Damers First School won the Environmental Practice Award for engaging the whole community including businesses, schools, charity organisations and Dorchester Town Council in helping Dorchester achieve Surfers against Sewage Plastic Free Community Status. The children have signed up 90 businesses so far, ensuring they remove at least 3 single use plastics or find alternatives. Also, they made presentations and wrote letters.
Edd Moore, Eco Coordinator said, “We are very proud to have won this National Award for our Environmental work that is led so passionately by the children. To have inspired so many businesses, charity groups, schools and the Dorchester Town Council is a testament to their enthusiasm and hard work in reducing single use plastic across Dorchester.
The week beginning the 9th November Damers took part in the National Youth Climate Virtual Summit (by Transforming Our World – Global Action Plan) hosting the Pollution, Waste and Travel day which was shown across the UK and the world. The children showcased a film called Zero to Eco Heroes which followed their journey over the last 8 years (and focusing on the last 3 years) of their Eco Schools journey. They hope it will inspire other schools to teach their children about how to look after their environment for a better future and help to become a Zero Carbon School by 2030. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QBqd-0-qkc&t=11s
Chloe from Meadow 4 represented Damers First School at a Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots European meeting that was attended by representatives from Spain, Holland, Austria, Turkey, Germany and Switzerland as well as Dr Jane Goodall herself. Chloe made a powerpoint and talked about the work she and the school are doing to help animals, people, the environment and the local community.
