Ecoschools is an internationally acclaimed programme that engages the whole school community in improving the school’s environmental performance.  The school sets up an Eco-Council which then identifies the main areas for the school to tackle and develops a programme of actions.  Topics can include, as examples, energy, waste, transport and school grounds.   A part-time officer is employed by MEC to lead on the initiative.  There are now 44 schools in Middlesbrough signed up to Ecoschools; prior to the employment of an officer in 2005, only two Middlesbrough schools were participating in Ecoschools.  One school has achieved a Green Flag, the highest level of Ecoschool Award, with 12 Silver Awards and 24 Bronze Awards.   The Ecoschools Programme in Middlesbrough is managed through the Environmental Education Specialist Working Group.  Many partner organisations contribute to the programme including Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, Middlesbrough Council Waste Policy, Middlesbrough Council Parks and Countryside, Tees Valley Arts, North York Moors National Park and Groundwork South Tees.