Prendergast CP School wins eco award for outstanding commitment

Prendergast CP School in Pembrokeshire is celebrating after winning the Matt Bunt Award for Eco-Schools Excellence at this year’s Tidy Wales Awards.

The award, run by Keep Wales Tidy, recognises schools that show outstanding commitment to environmental action through the Eco-Schools programme.

Prendergast School located in Haverfordwest was recognised for embedding environmental action across school life, with pupils, staff, families and partner organisations working together to improve biodiversity, strengthen outdoor learning and care for the natural world.

Since the work began, pupils have helped to develop Prendergardd and the school’s Wild Area as outdoor learning and biodiversity spaces. Their work has included wildlife surveys, pond dipping, moth trapping, birdwatching, bat surveys, pollinator projects, tree identification, wildflower planting and habitat creation.

The project is embedded in the Curriculum for Wales, with pupils using the school grounds as a real-life context for learning across the curriculum and developing a strong sense of cynefin or belonging.

The school’s Eco Warriors pupil voice group has helped lead ideas, share learning and encourage others to take action. Families and the wider community have also been involved through activities such as Groundforce Days, family pond dipping sessions and a community bat walk attended by more than 60 people.

The award also recognises the school’s wider sustainability work, including Big Bocs Bwyd, which links food growing, cooking, healthy eating, waste reduction and community support.

Keep Wales Tidy said judges were impressed by how environmental action has become part of everyday life at Prendergast CP School, with clear evidence of impact through improvements to biodiversity, growing pupil confidence, community involvement and positive conversations between learners, families and staff.

Headteacher at Prendergast CP School, Louise John, said: “We are extremely proud of this national recognition and of the pupils, staff, families and partners who have made it possible.

“This award gives us a wonderful opportunity to share what we have learned with other schools, locally and nationally, and to collaborate around biodiversity, outdoor learning and pupil-led environmental action.”

Ellie Power, Outdoor Learning and Eco-Schools Lead at Prendergast CP School, added: “Winning this award is a huge honour and recognises the curiosity, care and leadership our pupils show in caring for our school grounds and local wildlife.

“We are grateful to the experts and partners whose guidance has helped us make informed choices for biodiversity, rooted in our cynefin and built for the future.”