THE Chase high school has received Bronze Award Eco-School status, the first of three levels showing commitment to a sustainable environment for the school and its local community.

The sustainability workgroup, comprising several members of staff and a representative from the governors, have been working over the last year on several initiatives to ensure that the school is doing its best for the environment.

Lee Campion, sustainability co-ordinator, said: "The first step was last year's successful student-led campaign to bring recycling to school and we now fill a large paper recycling bin every week.

"All of the students in year eight then got involved and performed a review of the school env ironment. We listened to their findings and installed a bottle-filling station to make fresh water more available and new seating areas around the school.

"This also formed part of our successful bid to become Healthy School last year. One of our biggest achievements so far is to have won the chance to pilot bio-fuel for our heating systems."

The Chase is the first secondary school in the area to have a School Travel Plan approved. This aims to cut down the number of people coming to school in cars and encourage them to walk or cycle instead.