Primary schools in Sefton are taking part in an exciting research programme to understand the levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and other pollutants in our atmosphere.

NO2 is produced by most vehicle exhaust pipes and is measured with monitoring tubes in different locations.

A total of 11 schools will be monitoring at key points in their school to see what the air quality is like within their grounds. Schools include Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary (pictured), where the tubes will be monitored by the schools Eco Council.

Each school on the AirWatch programme has linked up with a member of Sefton’s Environmental Protection team and the Southport Eco Centre and will be hosting diffusion tubes to monitor levels of NO2. They will receive monthly reports as well as educational content and activities to do in class across a wide range of topics.

AirWatch programme schools will also have access to termly campaign toolkits to help pupils influence positive behaviour on the school run to reduce any air quality issues around their school grounds and any measures the school take to reduce the levels of pollution will be able to be monitored in real time by the students.

Schools will be asked to return the tube every month in a pre-paid envelope and replace it with a new tube so that the team can track changes over a long period.

The AirWatch programme will run from January 2022 to December 2022.

Darren Lloyd, Teacher at the Eco Centre said:

“This is fantastic opportunity for young people in Sefton to take part in an exciting project with real world results. The Clean Air Crew project has been a fantastic success with most schools in the authority now signed up – we have established engagement, now we want to foster ownership.

“Good air quality is extremely important to the health of people and the planet and this project will help us to identify those areas where improvements need to be made.

“I am thrilled that local schools will be helping us to gather this data, ultimately this is their planet to inherit and we want them to be learn about this crucial issue as soon as possible.”

If schools are not already signed up to www.cleanaircrew.co.uk, Sefton schools can register for free & access a wealth of curriculum resources supporting sustainable education for both classroom & home learning.

There is still time for other schools to register to take part in the AirWatch programme, they can sign up at the website before January 21^st to register.