Earning a Green Standard Schools (GSS) accreditation is a significant asset for international language schools looking to demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability. In this Sustainable Wednesday article, we outline the steps you need to take to become a GSS member.

The application process

Becoming an accredited Green Standard School involves a thorough assessment of your establishment’s current environmental policies and practices. Here’s a breakdown of the application process:

1. Register for a free account on the GSS website and submit a simple form expressing your interest.
2. Complete the online application form consisting of two sections – general school information and a 50-question self-assessment of your environmental practices. To qualify, you’ll need a minimum score of 130 out of 200, which is automatically generated online.
3. If you qualify, you’ll sign an agreement and pay the GSS membership fee. 

Upon accreditation, your school will receive a certificate and permission to use the GSS logo across your website, social media and other marketing material. You’ll also gain access to the members’ area full of useful resources and teaching materials.

Sample assessment form questions

You might be wondering what sort of questions the self-assessment form asks. To give you an idea of what to expect, here are a few examples from the ‘energy’ section:

1. Do you monitor and record your school’s energy consumption? 

Provide evidence like an Excel sheet showing 6-12 months of consumption data from your energy bills.

2. Have you set a target to reduce energy consumption annually? 

Share a staff memo or poster announcing this goal, even if modest (e.g. a 3-4% reduction).

3. Does your electricity supplier use renewable sources? 

Submit a recent bill or website link showing the percentage of green energy your provider generates.

Earning the Green Standard School badge is a valuable way to showcase your language school’s eco-friendly efforts to prospective students, staff, and the wider community. Find out more about our partners GSS here and follow this Sustainable Wednesday article series for more green tips!

Written by Stephanie Clark