Towerbank Primary School

Institution: Towerbank Primary School - FIRST FAIRTRADE PRIMARY SCHOOL IN EDINBURGH

Achieved Fairtrade Status: 2 June 2009

Number of Students: 556

Number of Staff: 49

Towerbank Primary School has been involved in promoting Fair Trade since
2005 with the range and scope of activities growing each year.

A Fair Trade group was established in 2008 and is made up of pupils from
P7 initially with support of eco reps from 2-7 classes.

Fair Trade is integrated into the wider school curriculum and
activities.  The following is an example of some of the projects that
the school is involved in:

*        Towerbank is in the early stages of becoming Global Partners with a
school in Dwerebease, Ghana. Through this partnership, pupils will be
given the opportunity to learn about the difference Fair Trade is making
to children in Ghana.
*        Baking using Fair Trade ingredients
*        Fair trade Healthy Tuck Stall, which started as an enterprise with a
group of P7 children and runs every Friday with parent support.  Snacks
and fruit are purchased by pupils with the help of volunteer parents from
local shops selling Fair Trade goods.
*        P4 pupils created a rap about Fair Trade which they sang to the
rest of the school at assembly
*        Fair trade promotional work - posters & leaflets are prepared by
staff & pupils to promote up and coming Fair Trade events.  Newsletter
articles let the wider community know of successful Fair Trade events
held in the school. 
*        Participation in Fairtrade Fortnight annually - exploring Fair
Trade business, having a Fair Trade dress up day (tying in with walk to school
week)
*        Links to Eco-schools: Fair Trade is part of the eco action plan
and is integrated into other curricular areas where appropriate

The school endeavours to involve parents, teachers and the wider school
community.  Guest speakers attend school assemblies to present on Fair
Trade, while parents are involved in running the tuck stall and attending
meetings/take minutes. They also assist by advertising in the local
community press, purchasing items for the tuck stall from local
stores and approaching supermarkets to help stock the tuck stall.