A HIGH Wycombe secondary school has become the first in Bucks to be presented with a prestigious international award for its eco-friendly ethos.

John Hampden grammar school in Marlow Hill was awarded a Green Flag - the highest accolade possible - from Eco Schools, an international award programme, which helps schools become sustainable by providing a framework for them to follow.

There are more than 40,000 schools across 46 countries worldwide signed up to the programme that aims to get students to go green.

John Hampden, which has been running as an environmentally friendly school for five years, received its green flag award on Friday.

Since going green, students have formed a dedicated Eco-Council and helped to introduce paper and plastic recycling into class, created an outdoor wildlife area and designed an energy and water monitoring system.

Solar panels have also been introduced around the school to help power it.

Tim Kendall, head of year nine, spearheaded the project after joining John Hampden in 2001.

He said: “It's brilliant, the kids are really pleased.

“Everybody across the school knows what we are doing and lots of boys not in the council have been coming up saying, 'have we got the green flag?'. They're all genuinely chuffed.”

Pupils on the council have been encouraged to come up with ideas and projects to make the school sustainable and follow these through to the end stage.

This has included students getting in contact with Wycombe District Council rangers and inviting them into class to help develop the wildlife area.

Mr Kendall, who is also head of the German department, added: “The Eco Council have badges, but they only get one once they have done something for the school and highlighted something they want to work at.

“I think the kids really have ownership of it. They really feel they have made it happen, which is phenomenal.”

Before getting the green flag the school assessed itself online to get the bronze and silver awards, and was then visited by an inspector who recommended them for the top award.

To ensure it keeps hold of the accolade however, the school must reapply for it every two years.

Plans are already underway to introduce new schemes into school to achieve the green flag in 2010, including introducing a Fair Trade food stall.

Mr Kendall said: “It comes at a nice time because over the next month we're going to be without a canteen.“ Another major project for the Eco Council is the logging and monitoring of the school's water and electricity usage with a view to cutting it down to save money.

Work on this scheme has already started after John Hampden teamed up with Thames Water, which came in to do an audit of its facilities and fitted free push button taps.