FAQs

1. How do I register my school on the Eco-Schools programme?
2. How do I find a list of Eco-Schools in Northern Ireland?/Is my school already registered?
3. How do I apply for an award?
4. Is there a deadline for applying for our Green Flag?
5. What happens during a Green Flag assessment?
6. How do I get practical help with the programme?
7. How often do we need to renew our Green Flag?
8. Can my school get any financial help?
9. Are there other schools in my area who can advise us?
10. Who do I contact for help?
11. What do I do if I have forgotten my log-in details?
12. Can I use the Eco-Schools logo?   
13. Where can I download templates for the Environmental Review and Action Plan?  
14. What type of schools can join Eco-Schools?  
15. Does a school have to go through each award stage?   

1. How do I register my school on the Eco-Schools programme?

100% of schools in Northern Ireland are now registered with Eco-Schools. To find out who the contact is in your school contact Eco-Schools on 028 9073 6920 or eco-schools@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org.

2. How do I find a list of Eco-Schools in Northern Ireland?/Is my school already registered?

In January 2015 Northern Ireland became the first country in the world to have 100% of schools registered with Eco-Schools.

3. How do I apply for an award?

Bronze and Silver awards are self-assessed.  The criteria can be found on our website.  When you believe your school has met all the criteria, you can log in with your email address and password and download your certificate.

Green Flag awards are assessed by a team of trained volunteer assessors.  Complete the online application within the School Zone, adding your Environmental Review, Action Plan and Eco-Code to the Resource Library where they will then be automatically attached to your application. Add your monitoring data to the Data Zone and this will also be automatically attached to your application. Your application will be acknowledged by the Eco-Schools office and, if the application is approved, we will be in touch to arrange an assessment visit for your school.  If there are any queries with the application, we will contact you to discuss them

4. Is there a deadline for applying for our Green Flag?

March 6th 2025.

5. What happens during a Green Flag assessment?

The whole assessment should only take between one and two hours.  The two assessors will expect the following to occur during an assessment [they do not expect a formal presentation as the report provides all this information]:

• Review all the relevant documentation: Eco-Code, the minutes of any meetings [in any format], your environmental review and action plan;
• View the Eco-Schools Notice Board;
• Meet the Eco-Committee;
• Have a tour around the school preferably led by the Eco-Committee;
• Meet pupils from a variety of classes and age groups; and
• View the results of various activities.

The assessing team will recommend a pass or fail or maybe a pass following certain recommendations. 

If your school is successful, you will receive a Green Flag, Certificate and an Assessment Report.

6. How do I get practical help with the programme?

Field Officers and Delivery Partners offer support. Contact details are in the Partners section of the website.

7. How often do we need to renew our Green Flag?

Every two years.

8. Can my school get any financial help?

Periodically, there are grants and financial assistance for schools on the Eco-Schools programme.  These will be advertised on our website at www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org.

9. Are there other schools in my area who can advise us?

You can find a map of Green Flag schools on this website. Schools who have achieved their Green Flag should be able to offer you advice.

10. Who do I contact for help?

In the first instance, please contact the Eco-Schools office by email at eco-schools@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org.

11. What do I do if I have forgotten my log-in details?

Contact the Eco-Schools office on 028 9073 6920 or email eco-schools@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org with your school name and postcode so we can confirm your log-in details.

12. Can I use the Eco-Schools logo?

Schools can only use the Eco-Schools logo once they have achieved their Green Flag award. To obtain a copy of the logo please email eco-schools@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org providing your school name and postcode.

13. Where can I download templates for the Environmental Review and Action Plan?

You can download templates to help you carry out an Environmental Review and design your Action Plan in the Process section.

14. What type of schools can join Eco-Schools?

Any type of school can join Eco-Schools. This includes nurseries, primary schools, post-primary schools, special schools, children’s centres and pupil referral units.  If you are unsure whether you are eligible to join the Eco-Schools programme, please contact the Eco-Schools office on 028 9073 6920 or email eco-schools@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org.

15. Does a school have to go through each award stage?

Schools can choose to go through each award stage (Bronze, Silver and Green Flag) but this is not compulsory. A school may obtain their Bronze award and then decide to work towards Green Flag straight away. Alternatively, a school could go straight to Green Flag from registration, depending on the level of work that has been completed.