Connect
What Is a Fairtrade School?
Becoming a Fairtrade school is about much more than just getting a badge. The campaign can make a real difference to producers in developing countries. If a school meets all the criteria below they will be awarded a certificate by the Fairtrade Foundation in recognition of the effort they are making to promote and develop Fair Trade.
Gaining Fairtrade Schools Status can also contribute towards Eco Schools and Health Schools, contact us to find out more schools@fairtradewales.com.
There is a new U.K wide website for Fairtrade Schools. The new fantastic website means you can now become a Fairtrade School using the online system, where you register online, upload your fairtrade evidence of events etc and receive your certificate!
(Please note: We are working with the Fairtrade Foundation for this to be translated into Welsh. Also if your school has difficulty using computers, please get in touch with us at school@fairtradewales.com.)
Become a Fairtrade School
To become a Fairtrade School, follow the 4 simple steps below:
1. Register online at www.fairtrade.org.uk/schools
When you register you will be given a username and password to access your schools own online pages. Here you can upload your Fairtrade work and evidence of events, and you can also gain great resources, share tips with schools and much more.
2. Get started with your Fair Trade activity.
Work with the 5 goals below and upload your evidence online as you go along.
The 5 goals are:
a) Our school has set up a Fairtrade School Steering Group.
This may be the same as your eco or school council but please dedicate at least one meeting a term to Fairtrade.
b) Our school has written and adopted a whole-school Fairtrade Policy
(we can provide you with an example policy...click here)
c) Our school is committed to selling, promoting and using Fairtrade products, where possible.
(please keep your receips for this section)
d) Our whole school learns about Fairtrade issues.
Teaching and learning about Fairtrade in lessons.
e) Our school promotes and takes action for Fairtrade both in school and the wider community. This includes putting on Fairtrade events, and other Fairtrade action.
3. Apply for Fairtrade Status
As you upload your evidence at www.fairtradeschools.net you will see at the bottom of the screen there is a ‘submit' button. You now simply click on the ‘submit' button online. Your application will then get sent to a checker, and you will be sent an email when they have looked at your work.
4. Receive your certificate - and hang on your wall with pride!
When you have achieved Fairtrade School Status for your school, have a party, write to the newspapers - all that fun stuff. But it doesn't end here! Remember your Fairtrade policy commits you to continue to expand your Fairtrade activities. In order to have your hard earned Fairtrade School status renewed each year, you have to show you are continuing and deepening your activities.
To get renewal, you need to upload:
• A report on your activities throughout the year
• Three sets of Steering Group minutes (one for each term)
• Evidence development of either new products/ new events/ expanding your Fairtrade work
You may also be a school who is interested in Fair Trade, but doesn't necessarily want to join the Fairtrade School Scheme - this is also fine! We support any schools who are interested in Fair Trade in any way shape or form! And it's not just schools, we support youth clubs, nurseries, youth groups too.