Grendon Underwood Combined School successfully showed the International Foundation for Environmental Education that they had adopted several environmentally-friendly practices, allowing the school to display the eco-schools' Green Flag.

Children are now emptying recycling bins located around the school every day and bringing printer cartridges, mobile 'phones, paper, plastic, batteries and organic materials to school to be recycled.

Buckinghamshire Local Education Authority have also been monitoring levels of electricity consumption at the school and is giving advice on how to save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

Headteacher Tim Heaton said: "Children have been able to adopt simple changes in behaviour like turning lights out when they leave a room or closing a door to keep the heat in."

Mr Heaton said the scheme was important for the future of young people. He added: "Older generations are at times set in their ways. We do our little bit but the generation coming up need to have this instilled in them so it is second nature. Hopefully when they rule the world they will be able to make big decisions on protecting the environment."

Over the last two years the project has been led by Year Six teacher, Lucy Robinson and her team of student 'Eco-Warriors.' Mrs Robinson added: "This is just the beginning; we have lots more ideas for the future. We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint as far as possible."

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