School of the Month

Every month, we show a school special recognition for their Fair Trade efforts. This could be anything from a fantastic Fair Trade event to in-depth Fair Trade learning in the classroom. Schools up and down the country are working really hard on Fair Trade issues; ensuring pupils are developing and learning in the context of Global Citizenship. If you'd like to nominate a school for Fair Trade School of the Month, send a message to schools@fairtradewales.com

June 2010
Penygloddfa Primary school for their fanstatic Fair Trade song. Written by class 5/6 R and sang in the tune of ‘Sing Hosanna’

May 2010
St Christophers School - for their 10 year commitment to Fair Trade! And for their fantastic peer education project with local primary schools. This involved pupils from the secondary school running assemblies to local primary schools, entitled 'Spread the Word' where they would encourage primary schools to also become active with Fair Trade issues. A particularly encouraging school, as many of the children face challenges with special needs, but show commitment to caring for others, despite their own challenges.

April 2010
Howell's School (Cardiff) - for being one of the 85 schools to contribute to the world's biggest Fairtrade table cloth and for then using their table cloth patch design on the school's new greeting cards. What a great way to spread the Fair Trade message and get it out in to the community!

March 2010
Allensbank Primary (Cardiff), Glantaf Infants (Rhondda Cynon Taff) and Ysgol Gymraeg Garth Olwg (Rhondda Cynon Taff) - for attending a giant tea party with AMs at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. The pupils engaged in politics by performing songs and poems they had written themselves about Fair Trade and spoke to Jane Davidson AM about why they believe Fair Trade is important. The pupils also showcased samples of their work and even brought home-made Fair Trade cakes for the Minister to try!

February 2010
Canolfan Brynffynnon (Gwynedd) - for their Fairtrade tea project where pupils of all ages took part in classroom activities learning about Fairtrade tea. This led to the whole school taking action by visiting makeitfair.org.uk and campaigning for the UK's biggest tea brands to make it Fair and go Fairtrade! They extended their project to the local community by inviting people to a Fairtrade tea party where they had fun decorating hats and enjoying Fairtrade sugar, cocoa, chocolate, sultanas, bananas, orange juice, jam, coffee, and of course TEA!

January 2010
St Mellons Church in Wales Primary School (Cardiff) - for making learning about Fairtrade fun! The school ran a Fairtrade label collecting competition to help promote The BIG Swap. Each class collected as many Fairtrade labels from Fairtrade products that they could find and the class that collected the most won a selection of Fairtrade fruit and chocolate. The whole school was a buzz with label counting and the winning class were kind enough to share their prize with the rest of the school.

November 2009
Gellifaelog School (Merthyr)- A pupil from the school received the Peter Jones Memorial award which was established by Love Zimbabwe. This award recognises the unique contributions of an individual child in the understanding and development of ‘Fair Trade and global citizenship'.

October 2009
St Cyres School (Penarth) - for successfully linking their schools group with their Fairtrade town group. They have had full Fairtrade status for 2 years, and have been involved with the towns Fairtrade progress since 2005, helping out with many of the town group's activities. Some pupils from the school regularly attend the Penarth Town Fairtrade Forum meetings with one student recently being elected as the publicity officer.

September 2009
Ysgol Pontrobert (Powys) - for cooking a delicious 3 course Fair Trade meal for their parents!

July 2009
Ysgol Llanllechid (Gwynedd) - for their excellent work in learning about Fair Trade issues. The school have successfully linked Fair Trade to the curriculum, and stood out with a high standard of Fair Trade learning. They are also notable for their teachings through the medium of Welsh. For any teachers interested in using their scheme of work, please contact schools@fairtradewales.com They are a school who have successfully introduce Fair Trade despite being in an economically deprived area.

June 2009
Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn (Carmarthenshire) - for their fantastic Fair Trade Stunt! Spelling ‘Fair Trade' using pupils. The event was called off due to bad weather at first, so the fair play to the school who reorganised! The stunt was well covered by media, an arial photographer was booked, and local primary schools were involved in spelling out their concerns for Fair Trade. Well done to all the young activists!

May 2009
Hafren School (Powys)- for being the first Fairtrade school in Montogmeryshire. Teachers- for their fantastic curriculum links in their fair trade lessons. Pupils - for writing to the LEA asking for Fair Trade school meals.

April 2009
Ysgol Dinas Bran (Denbighshire) - for appearing on television and telling all schools in Wales how they became a Fairtrade School and the benefits of Fair Trade.

March 2009
St Richard Gwyn (Barry) - for touring their fantastic banana dance around South Wales on the Banana Bus! A fun way of peer education.

February 2009
Gladestry School (Powys) - for switching all the bags children use to Fairtrade cotton bags!

January 2009
Ysgol Cynfran (Conwy) - for putting pressure on UK national football teams to stock fairtrade footballs! They took the Wales Fair Trade flag to Old Trafford and encouraged them to do more for Fair Trade.