On Tuesday, September 30, Councillor Maureen Webber, Councillor Ann Crimmings, Councillor Sharon Rees and Councillor Rhys Lewis welcomed 13 pupils from primary schools across Rhondda Cynon Taf to the Council Chambers in Pontypridd to formally receive the bronze level of the RCT Schools Eco Award. The award comes as part of their hard work and commitment to improving their schools’ environmental impacts. During their visit, the pupils also learnt about the Council Chambers, their role in decision making and how the Council works.
The RCT Schools Eco Awards were created by the Council to encourage pupils to get involved in the way their schools operate and learn about the different ways they can look after the environment by reducing the school’s waste and energy, taking care of biodiversity and increasing recycling. By engaging in this initiative, schools are supporting the delivery of the Council’s Climate Strategy - 'Think Climate RCT'.
Over the past two years, pupils from YGG Evan James, Tai Education Centre, Llwydcoed Primary School and Gwaunmeisgyn Primary School have been working hard to hit these targets set out in the award criteria and have successfully achieved the bronze level of the RCT Schools Eco Award.
Alongside their bronze award certificates, all four successful schools received bird boxes and bug hotels bought by the Council as part of the reward for achieving the bronze level. They also received a voucher that has been sponsored by Morgan Sindall Construction to purchase items on the schools ‘wish list’ to help them with furthering environmental improvements at their school and seeking to achieving the silver level of the award.
The schools progress in the silver award will be reviewed at the end of January 2026.
A further 19 schools are currently seeking to achieve the bronze status of the RCT Schools Eco Award during the current academic year.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and the Welsh Language, said: “It’s been a pleasure to award the pupils with their bronze Eco Award today. Their dedication in achieving this award is so refreshing and their passion for the environment is clear to see. As a Council we are extremely proud to support our schools in reducing their effects on the environment and providing the learners with impactful lessons in and out of the classroom. These are important life lessons which they will carry with them into the future. We are excited to watch the children achieve the Silver and Gold awards in the near future, and we hope this inspires other schools and learners to take part!”
Posted on 20/10/2025