Students at the Deaf Academy in Exmouth have been awarded a prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag.

The eco-conscious students have received international recognition for their efforts in promoting sustainability and environmental awareness.

Over the past year, a committee of students and staff at the Academy initiated several projects to enhance sustainability.

These included food waste management, recycling initiatives, creating a wildflower area, and building bug hotels.

They also organised a successful clothes swap, which raised over £300 to be reinvested into the scheme.

The Academy's commitment has now been recognised with a Green Flag award, with distinction, as part of the Eco-Schools programme.

This global initiative, established in 1994, aims to empower young people to protect our planet and now operates in over 70 countries.

The Deaf Academy students followed the Eco-Schools’ seven-steps framework to instigate positive change.

A student-led committee was formed to spearhead the Academy’s environmental initiatives.

They first conducted a thorough review of their school environment and curriculum, before creating a vision statement video which they signed in British Sign Language.

They then developed a year-long plan of action, with a focus on reducing litter, creating biodiversity, and minimising waste.

The project also included learning about sustainability in the classroom, ensuring students could share their knowledge with others and apply their eco-awareness at home and in other environments.

Deputy head of school, Jo Fison, who chaired the committee, said: "Students in our Eco-Schools Committee have worked incredibly hard and are thrilled to be awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag with distinction."

The Academy also partnered with the Budleigh Salterton Lions Club to help keep the community clean by picking up litter around areas of Exmouth.

Vice district governor and former president of Budleigh Salterton Lions Club, Richard Allen, said: "We were delighted to have the opportunity to help the Deaf Academy become an Eco-School and achieve the prestigious Green Flag award.

"The students have done a fantastic job protecting nature and habitats by removing rubbish from our local environment."