As the COP26 summit continues in Glasgow, we asked teachers and leaders from schools across the country to share how they are playing their part in creating a sustainable future.
Giving young people a voice
At Greatwood we have a team of Eco-Rangers, who are pupils from years 1-6. They have been carrying out a ‘Year of Waste Challenge’ where they are set monthly challenges by the Trust Leader/CEO. So far, they have focused on waste crime, clothes production and reducing the schools carbon footprint. The children have also carried out their own investigations into food waste, travel to school, electricity use, and have presented further improvement ideas and held the school to account.
Jonelle Yeoman, Headteacher - Greatwood Community Primary & Nursery School
Our pupils have created various innovative sustainability initiatives within the school, such as 'Plastic Free Fridays' and 'Meat Free Mondays'. This pupil-led approach has enabled true ownership of the various initiatives, and fully embeds the importance of taking responsibility for looking after the world around them.
Adam Stainsbury, Principal - Westerings Primary Academy
Small changes to make school more sustainable
To encourage sustainability, every class has two ‘power down champions’ who turn off electrical equipment when it is not being used. We have also set up recycling stations in every classroom for paper, we plant trees which are free from the Woodland Trust and have a walk to school week. In addition, we’ve had conversations with our school kitchen staff about reducing single use plastics and introducing re-usable straws.
Jonelle Yeoman, Headteacher - Greatwood Community Primary & Nursery School
We’ve implemented a school-wide initiative to reduce the amount of single use plastics. We looked at the number of plastic bottles, plastic cutlery and polystyrene cups being used daily in the canteen and encouraged all pupils to keep reusable bottles. Every pupil has now been given a Parkwood Academy reusable water bottle and the academy has become completely plastic free.
Gemma Cottingham, Headteacher - Parkwood Academy
Making a big statement
In school, we host termly ‘No Electricity’ days which have a huge impact on how pupils think about and use electricity. This term we have organised the day to coincide with COP26 and will spend the day learning about the summit.
We have also taken inspiration from the recent Earthshot Prize, to design our very own Environmental Prize in school. This encourages pupils to design an idea to help the school become more environmentally friendly. We will be hosting an awards ceremony, which will identify two winners, who will receive £500 towards achieving their ideas.
Tom Parkin, Headteacher - South Molton Community Primary School
Improving biodiversity
Our pupils have planted over 400 trees and installed two compost zones within our school grounds. We’ve also created a wildlife walk within the woodland areas of the school. The centrepiece of the wildlife walk is the addition of pupil-made bird boxes which can be viewed from their newly installed bird hide. As well as encouraging wildlife walks, we also have ‘walk to school' initiatives to get pupils to travel to school more sustainably, by walking, scooting, or cycling.
Adam Stainsbury, Principal - Westerings Primary Academy
At Ringmer we have appointed eco reps and have a dedicated eco team. We have been concentrating on biodiversity and one of our initiatives for Spring 2022 is the rewilding of the school grounds. The aim is to encourage wildlife onto the site, by planting indigenous species hedgerows and orchards and digging a wetland and pond space.
Sarah Pillar & Emma Holmes - King’s Academy Ringmer
Engaging the wider community
Some of our pupils have formed a Climate Action Group, where they work closely with the Borough Council. The group will be taking part in an event focusing on generating local agreement on what should happen to help combat climate change within Solihull. They have also recently conducted a Climate Action Survey, provided by the InterClimate Network, to inspire and enable the school community to tackle climate change.
Abid Butt, Principal - Lyndon School
We recently hosted a Climate Summit, which was an exciting opportunity for children to hear live from the UN Climate Change Conference and to quiz our leaders about the work they are doing to encourage sustainability. Pupils sent leaf messages to Westminster, supporting the WWF’s Schools’ ‘Promise to the Planet’ campaign. Their messages included asking world leaders to stop burning fossil fuels, plastic pollution, and deforestation.
Angela Spencer & Margaret Land - St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Academy Trust
For more ways to get inspired:
- Meet the One Step Greener Ambassadors who are going above and beyond for the climate.
- Read green success stories achieved by young climate leaders and other schools.
3 comments
Comment by Ben Day Head of Geography (Bedford Modern) posted on
We are going to hold a mini COP pledge event.
Each department for example academic faculties, catering, caretaking, estates management, external relations etc will make a large scale pledge relating to a clear environmental change. These targets will be published and reviewed by the schools Eco-club.
Every student and member of the wider school community will also be asked to make a small scale pledge that they can note down and share with the Eco-club if they wish.
Comment by Meghan Pugh posted on
At Downsview, we held an Eco-fair during 'Great Big Green Week'
Watch our video to see how successful it was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQEFx8wJSRE
Comment by Maria Finocchiaro posted on
Actively involving education organisations, pupils and parents in responding to the climate change challenge can be a real step forward as I agree that small changes can make a big difference. It can be done in every setting, including special needs schools, young people with disabilities can play a big role and have their voices heard to contribute for a more sustainable future. The initiatives from this post are very inspirational, I will promote more projects and actions to my school linked to this theme.