Green Schools is an environmental education programme run by An Taisce in partnership with Roscommon County Council. A Green Schools Committee led by students works to change the habits of everyone to become more environmentally friendly. A total of 96 primary and secondary schools in County Roscommon have registered with Green Schools. 

Roscommon County Council can support primary and secondary schools at all stages of the Green Schools programme by:

• Providing a point of contact for teachers and pupils interested in finding out about environmental issues.
• Offering practical advice and assistance with waste minimisation, composting or other practical projects.
• Completing school visits, workshops, information evenings and competitions.

Green Schools Themes

The Green Flag is a progressive and continuous environmental programme designed for schools, at both primary and secondary level. The programme works on themes, each of which take approximately 2 years to adopt. There are currently ten themes which schools can work on:

• Litter and Waste
• Energy
• Water
• Travel
• Biodiversity
• Global Citizenship Litter and Waste
• Global Citizenship Energy
• Global Citizenship Marine Environment
• Global Citizenship Travel
• Global Citizenship Food and Biodiversity

When you decide to become involved in Green Schools your first task is to register. You can register online at www.greenschoolsireland.org  

The Application Procedure

The application process is different for new schools and renewal schools.

Application forms are completed online by the Green Schools Co-Ordinator and sent to An Taisce.

New schools

The programme should have been running in the school for more than 1 year before you can apply for your flag. And while you do not have to have all tasks on your action plan completed, you must demonstrate that the action plan, review, green code etc, are in place.

The procedure for assessing your school is as follows:

1. Schools send in initial application

2. The An Taisce Green-Schools office review application and make recommendations

3. School implements recommendations and sends report to An Taisce

4. Assessor visits the school (An Taisce will contact the Environmental Awareness Officer to inform them that the school is ready for assessment and the Environmental Awareness Officer will contact the school to arrange a date for assessment)

5. Green-Schools evaluation committee make the decision to award the Green-Flag.

Renewal Schools

A renewal visit takes places during the second year of your Green-Schools programme. Typically, the visit is completed before you submit your renewal application form. 

Renewal visits are carried out either by your Local Authority Environmental Awareness Officer or by An Taisce staff.

Renewal Visit  before you submit your Application for the Renewal of the Green Flag. 

Please contact the Environmental Awareness Officer to book your renewal assessment and please book early as dates fill up quickly.

Flags are normally awarded at a ceremony in May of each year. An Taisce will send a letter to successful applicants inviting them to the ceremony. 

For more information or support on Green Schools in County Roscommon contact the Environmental Education and Awareness Officer by e-mail at envawareness@roscommoncoco.ie