The school, part of East Midlands Academy Trust, has won the top Eco-Schools Green Flag Award to recognise the work of the school’s pupil-led eco-committee to promote environmental causes.

The school has been praised for its assemblies, eco-noticeboard, newsletters, website updates, classroom drop-ins, posters and displays which all keep the eco message visible.

Hardingstone Academy holds termly Power Down Days to bring a practical, whole-school focus, and the environment is incorporated into lessons where possible, such as the recent English project on marine life and plastic pollution where pupils designed leaflets on the impact of plastic on sea animals.

Teacher Isabelle Dalton, who is the school’s eco-committee lead, said: “We are incredibly proud to have achieved the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award with Distinction for the third year in a row. This is a fantastic achievement for our school and, most importantly, for the children who have worked so enthusiastically as part of our eco-committee.

“Receiving the distinction for three consecutive years feels particularly special, as it recognises that environmental action has become an established and meaningful part of life at Hardingstone Academy rather than simply a one-off project.

“The children are incredibly proud of what they have achieved, and it has been wonderful to see how much ownership they have taken over making their school a more environmentally responsible place.”