A BLACKBURN primary school has achieved an award for its commitment to creating a safe, healthy and environmentally friendly school.

St Francis Primary School in Feniscowles was given the Blackburn with Darwen Safety and Environment Quality Standard with the help of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust to recognise its progress through the Healthy Schools Programme.

Lancashire Wildlife Trust staff have visited the school since 2007 and provided a variety of workshops ranging from waste minimisation techniques and composting work, to highlighting street scene issues such as littering and graffiti.

Since the visits, the school has implemented a series of initiatives to promote safe, healthy living practices whilst actively taking a positive role in protecting the environment.

Joanne Embley-Peers, deputy head, said: “The workshops in 2007 helped towards the standard by introducing environmental issues to the whole school.”