Queen Elizabeth High School has been awarded the status of a ‘Fairtrade School’ by the Fairtrade Foundation. This success follows a number of years campaigning by the Fairtrade group at the school.

To obtain Fairtrade status the student group had to achieve five goals. A steering group of students, teachers, governors and members of the community was set up which agreed a school policy signed by the Headteacher and governors committing the school to work towards Fairtrade status. The group arranged for the sale and use of Fairtrade products in the school canteens, at meetings and in the school’s training restaurant. Fairtrade was promoted through events such as a Fairtrade meal held in the QEHS Charter restaurant in February and a Fairtrade/Human Rights ceilidh held in March. Finally the group publicised Fairtrade issues at school through discussions in lessons and in assemblies.

Obtaining Fairtrade status does not mark the end of campaigning. This year the group has set itself the aim of working with other local schools to help them obtain Fairtrade status and working with the Hexham Town Fairtrade group to help it obtain Fairtrade status for the town. The group is also planning further events to help raise the awareness and understanding of Fairtrade both within the school and in the wider community.