Brabin's Endowed Primary School is one of just 56 schools nationally to be awarded a grant of £5,000 from the National College for School Leadership in recognition of its efforts to achieve sustainability.
To bid for the money, Brabin's submitted details of current sustainable projects, how they have been led and how they propose to share their experiences with other schools - and was also recognised for its already progressive sustainable practice and for its high quality leadership.
A holder of the permanent green eco schools' flag since September, Brabin's boasts a pro-active eco committee which attracts support from parents, governors and local environmentalists. It also has a well established recycling programme to reduce waste disposal costs and the amount of general waste being taken away to landfill sites.Very littte money is spent on purchasing local authority refuse sacks and the school also generates income from some of its projects, which is then used to maintain a high level of classroom support.
Brabin's also enjoys links with a Canadian school and is studying the school's sustainable school policy and the initiatives it has in place to conserve energy. And looking to the future, Brabin's is also investigating the possible introduction of solar energy to reduce its electricity bills.
The NCSL grant is now being used by Brabin's to form a network with other schools in the area to share good practice in sustainalbe thinking and the school will also be assisting the NCSL with research into leading sustainability in varying educational settings.
Brabin's Headteacher Mrs Glynis Goldsbrough, said they were obviously delighted to have received the grant, but said it must be seen as "working capital" to be used for the benefit of other schools as opposed to "winning a prize".
She said the project was also about encouraging good leadership models, so that once it was over there would be personnel on board with the ability to drive their school's objectives forward.
She said: "I am very pleased with the number of schools showing interest in the learning network we are going to create and we are looking forward to working with them."
She said the eco council from Ribchester St Wilfrid's had already visited Brabin's and representives from Goosnargh Oliverson's would be in school next week.
On Monday this week, Barry Percy Smith from the University of the West of England and Andrew Suter from Eco Schools were at Brabin's working on sustainability with years five and six.
During forthcoming months Mrs Goldsbrough said they would be organising workshops followed by a conference in November.