FAQs

No, unfortunately we are unable to accept paper applications any longer. There are a number of reasons for this including storage issues, but we have also had a number of schools' applications go missing in the post which is very upsetting for the school. It is also useful for you to be able to see what you submitted last year when you come to renew. The online system is very easy to use and you can upload evidence as you go, throughout the year.

Your existing supplier is always a good starting point – if they can’t offer Fairtrade products, you can find a full list of products, local catering suppliers, wholesalers and shops at www.fairtrade.org.uk. Look under ‘products’ or ‘suppliers’. Also, Traidcraft offer a small account which is excellent for schools. Go to www.traidcraft.org.uk. 

To find out more about where to find products for your school including school uniforms, sportswear and balls, and how to go about getting your canteen supplier to go Fairtrade, read the following factsheet: Sourcing Fairtrade products for your school (245.04KB).

Unfortunately we do not accept applications from nurseries for the Fairtrade Schools Award. Whilst we appreciate nurseries may do some excellent awareness raising work, and encourage this, the most important part of the Fairtrade Schools Award is the teaching and learning about Fairtrade and the issues that create a need for Fairtrade. Some of these concepts are quite complex and are too difficult for very small children. But just because the award does not apply to your setting does not mean that you cannot promote Fairtrade, and be involved with your local Fairtrade Town campaign.

We understand that it isn’t always possible to switch to Fairtrade products immediately but we ask you for evidence to show that you have tried. There are some examples of how schools have got round this problem under ‘How some schools introduced Fairtrade products’ in Section 2C (in the Action Guide). Even if you can’t change your supply contract, you can still promote Fairtrade through your own events and personal purchasing.

• Your nearest Development Education Centre (DEC) - you can find this out by going to www.dea.org.uk/members/decs.asp
• The Fairtrade Schools Support network. Find out more at www.fairtrade.org.uk/schools/support_resources/local_support.aspx
• Your local Fairtrade Towns groups - there are nearly 500 Fairtrade Towns and many of them have been working on Fairtrade for a long time, and are only too willing to help schools work on their award. To find out more go to www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/campaigns/fairtrade_towns/towns_list.aspx
• Traidcraft have a network of schools speakers. To find out more go to www.traidcraft.co.uk/get_involved/speakers/host_a_talk

Your local support network will be able to help with resources. We are trying to make sure that all resources on trade and Fairtrade are listed at www.globaldimension.org.uk. The organisations listed in Section 1D (in the Action Guide) can also provide resources and information. Many have downloadable materials on their websites. 

You can also check regularly our support and resources section for some new ideas.  

We believe that any Fairtrade food product eaten in moderation can be part of a healthy and balanced diet. However, there are many healthy Fairtrade products such as juices, fresh or dried fruit and other snacks. Under the standards for school food in England and Wales there is plenty of scope for selling and using a range of Fairtrade products for seasonal events, fundraising events, Fairtrade Fortnight etc. (see http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/search/fairtrade)

• parties or celebrations to mark cultural or religious occasions (e.g. Christmas, Diwali)
  
  
• fundraising events
  
  
• rewards for achievement, good behaviour or effort
  
  
• food used in teaching food preparation and cookery skills, provided the food is not served as part of a school lunch
  
  
• food brought in on an occasional basis by parents or pupils
  
  

A useful website for understanding the guidelines can be found at www.sustainweb.org. Click on ‘Projects & Campaigns’ then ‘Healthy Schools and Fair-Trade project’.

Don’t forget - Fairtrade isn’t just about food – sports balls and uniforms made with Fairtrade certified cotton are also available.

Yes. For example, you can use it as evidence of studying the Global Dimension as part of the Sustainable Schools scheme.

Yes, as long as you dedicate at least one meeting per term specifically to Fairtrade and keep copies of the minutes.

There are strict rules for using the FAIRTRADE Mark, as it is a registered trademark to indicate that a product is certified as meeting specific standards. It mustn’t be altered or incorporated into any other logo or design. If you want to use it to raise awareness of Fairtrade, you can use it with sentences like ‘Look for this Mark on Fairtrade products’ or ‘We choose Fairtrade products’.

If you become a Fairtrade school, you will receive the official ‘We are a Fairtrade School’ logo, which includes the FAIRTRADE Mark.

Instructions on how to use the FAIRTRADE Mark can be found at The FAIRTRADE Mark Go to ‘Manual for Promotional Materials’.

Great! Many schools have already been awarded Fairtrade School status as a result of work they’ve done with other organisations. These separate schemes have come together into one unified scheme but your Fairtrade status still stands! The only change is that when renewing your Fairtrade status after a year you’ll need to check what evidence you need to supply. If you are already a Fairtrade School let us know by emailing schools@fairtrade.org.uk. Look out for online renewals on the homepage.

Fairtrade isn’t in competition with UK farmers. Tropical products such as coffee, rice and bananas don’t grow in the temperate climates of Europe. Some products, such as apples, grapes or oranges are imported from the Southern hemisphere only when they are not in season here or because not enough are produced to meet the demand. However, it is up to each school to decide its own policy on these issues, balancing concern for both local and global farmers.

Buying Fairtrade products from developing countries not only provides a livelihood for millions of farmers, it also allows them to invest in projects that protect the environment and to diversify so they don’t have to rely on one single crop.

Most Fairtrade products are transported by ship. To keep them fresh, flowers are currently the only Fairtrade product to be routinely transported by air. Transportation of products is only one small element of the total carbon footprint of that product – think about how it is grown, packaged, distributed to shops within the UK, and the consumer journey to the store, or any waste disposal. Don’t forget too, that Fairtrade premiums can enable producers in developing countries to set up their own environmental projects, such as tree planting, recycling or conversion to organic p roduction.

A flower grown in Kenya and flown into the UK emits 5.8 times less carbon than one that has been industrially produced in a hot-house in the Netherlands. (Williams.A, 2007, Cranfield University)

School linking can be very rewarding when based on a spirit of partnership and learning about each other, but should be treated very carefully to avoid one-sided relationships. The Fairtrade Foundation does not arrange linking with a school in a developing country but there are other organisations that can help. Information can be found at www.globalgateway.org. (Partners in Learning). An excellent ‘Toolkit of Good Practice’ can be found at  http://www.ukowla.org.uk/toolkitmain/toolkit.asp with a section on schools linking.

We ask you to renew the award one year after initial receipt, a year after that, then every two years (i.e. a school that received the award in 2009 will have to renew in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015 and so on)

Although we welcome schools with sixth forms, there is a separate scheme for colleges and universities. See Faitrade Universities

Yes, each school’s special circumstances are taken into account. For example, if you are an Infants school or you are working with composite groups.