Pupils take part in a holiday switch off

Bassaleg Comprehensive School, Friday, 27 March 2026
30 points 10 pupils Change-maker KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5

During our last eco council meeting, pupils signed up to be a part of the 'eco-spies' programme. I gave them all a sheet to take around the school throughout the day on the last day of the term before we broke up for the Easter holidays. 
Pupils went around as many staff members as they could- a prize of an easter egg for the pupils who collected the most staff signatures. 
The pupils had to read out to staff what they should be doing before they leave site for the holidays. This included: 
  • Turning off projectors
  • Switching off all appliances at the plug
  • Turning off lights
  • Shutting windows
  • Turning off printers in staff offices

One group of students managed to collect a 24 signatures across the school!

To build on this task next time, I would like to get more pupils from the council involved. Due to there being a large time gap between our last meeting and this activity, so pupils forgot. I communicated on google classroom (our main communication tool for the council) that students should come to my room to collect the recording sheets, however lots of pupils still forgot to turn up- so I am thinking of ways to make this more efficient next time. 

This is something I hope to roll out at the end of every term/half term. 

Activity description

There are lots of ways for pupils to take part in a holiday switch off, even if they aren’t the very last people in school before the holidays. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Share the responsibility: Just as staff are given roles in switching things off, pupils can be too. Groups such as the Eco Club, School Council, or after-school clubs could team up with the caretaker and staff to take responsibility for switching off certain equipment. 
  • Think about the last day: Who will be around at the end of term? For example, teachers will usually be the last in their rooms so will switch off their lights and computers, but there might be other items in the classroom - like projectors, smart boards, or screens - that pupils can help check.
  • Look after specialist areas: ICT suites, libraries, and other shared spaces often have lots of equipment that doesn’t get used during the holidays. Pupils can help by checking these areas against the switch off list and making sure everything unnecessary is powered down. Ensure to get permission from whoever is in charge of their spaces.
  • Join in with end of term jobs: By combining switch-off checks with holiday jobs - like defrosting fridges or tidying shared spaces - pupils can help make sure the school is ready for a fresh start next term.

All activities
Energy Sparks supports Bassaleg Comprehensive School in partnership with  Egni Coop