FAIRTRADE status has been awarded to an ethically-minded secondary school. Sir John Lawes (SJL) in Harpenden has achieved the Fairtrade School status in recognition of its Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) work. The initiative, which received an

FAIRTRADE status has been awarded to an ethically-minded secondary school.

Sir John Lawes (SJL) in Harpenden has achieved the Fairtrade School status in recognition of its Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) work.

The initiative, which received an 'outstanding' judgement in a specific ESD Ofsted inspection, aims to improve the environmental performance of the school and prepare young people for a lifetime of sustainable living. SJL has adopted a Fairtrade policy which means ethical products are used in the school wherever possible and students learn about the issue in at least four subjects.

The school has also taken the lead role in the St Albans District Sustainable Schools Ambassadors Programme which involves all local pupils working to make their different schools more sustainable.

Among the initiatives undertaken have been an ethical fashion show which raised over �350 for Oxfam, Fairtrade assemblies led by students and work with other schools including help to run the Fairtrade Caf� at Crabtree Infants.

Headteacher Claire Robins said: "I am delighted that we have achieved Fairtrade Status. It represents the culmination of a lot of hard work by students and staff and shows how committed SJL students are to making positive changes to the world in which we live."

As well as achieving Fairtrade status, staff and students at SJL have also been helping to develop a new programme for Teachers TV about the teaching of citizenship. The channel filmed activities associated with the school's citizenship project which involves all Year 11 students working as a group to either raise awareness or funds to support a specific issue.

The programme, which will be aired in spring, also focused on how citizenship was taught through subjects across the other year groups at the school, including a Year 9 geography class studying international development.