STUDENT council representatives from UTC Reading joined students from all six schools in Activate Learning Education Trust (ALET) at the historic Maison Française d’Oxford for a day of collaboration focused on sustainability.
Led by the Trust’s central team and school staff, students explored what sustainability means to them, what skills they’ll need for the future, and how their councils can lead change on issues like waste and sustainable travel to shape a more sustainable future in education.
The event, attended by 45 students, focused on embedding the Trust’s core attributes – Resilient, Enterprising, Confident, Aware and Professional – into the Trust’s vision for sustainability.
ALET CEO Joanne Harper addressed the students, emphasising their vital role in driving environmental change, saying at the event: “This is what education is about – empowering students with purpose and vision.
“You are our future leaders–your ideas are really important.”
She explained that the cross-school collaboration aims to contribute to ALET’s five-year strategy, which places student leadership, sustainability and values-driven education at its core.
It also aims to empower students to have their say on sustainability and help build a culture of shared purpose across all ALET schools, preparing young people to be thoughtful, capable leaders.
This event marks the first in a series of planned cross-school leadership gatherings within ALET, reinforcing student voice and collaboration across the Trust.
Students will now take their ideas back to their individual school councils to begin implementing their action plans throughout the 2025-26 academic year.
Fleur, a Year 10 student from UTC Reading said: “Sustainability is really important to me because it’s our future.
“We’ve got to change our behaviours and it’s been interesting talking about how to do that at school.”
