A SHINFIELD school encouraged pupils to live a more sustainable life as part of its recent Big Green Week.
The initiative focused on climate change and biodiversity, and was an opportunity to reflect on the school’s highlights over the past year, including planting 1,200 trees and receiving a Green Flag award.
Last month, Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK) led a workshop to encourage students to take a leadership role on sustainability campaigns and initiatives, building support from across the school community to create change and achieve positive sustainability outcomes.
Saarvi, a lower sixth student, said: “The event helped me gain a new perspective on how environmental issues and social justice could connect.
“The ideas shared in the event allowed me to come up with my own campaign with my group about a sustainable fashion workshop for younger generations every summer in a library which will have a positive impact on the community.”
This sustainable fashion contest in April, saw the school’s four houses craft sustainable outfitsfrom second-hand clothing and materials based on three categories: wildlife, marine life, and the globe.
The school was also joint winners of the Green Senior School Award from Citykids magazine. Melanie Sanderson, competition judge and The Good Schools Guide managing editor, said Leighton Park offered “An extremely impressive firm commitment to change-making at a high level.”
The school’s work around COP, a partnership with the University of Reading, a co-curricular programme and students’ leadership, helped the school to be a Finalist for the Award for Excellence in Sustainability in the Independent Schools Association Awards 2023, as well as the Award for Environmental Achievement in the Independent Schools of the Year 2023 Awards.
Leighton Park’s sustainability co-ordinator and head of geography, Oliver Staines, said: “I really enjoy being able to help students make their ideas fly, turning their ideas for positive change into reality on the ground. Helping them to nudge, influence and win over their peers, at least in to allaying their fears over change, something we all fear.
“I also love that the role encourages and challenges me to become observant and knowledgeable about the school site and the rich Quaker history of concern for and study of natural history and ecology.”
