We are delighted to announce the winners of our inaugural Sustainability Awards, which ran in the Summer Term 2023. As a Trust, recognise the potential impact and influence that we have on our environment, and are committed to tackling environmental issues and sustainability for a greener future. Our Sustainability Awards recognise the efforts and achievements of pupils, students and staff across all our academies in their shared commitment to creating a more sustainable future.
By collecting and organising end-of year office and stationery supplies and lost property, Mrs Hudson and Mr Swales (with the support and donations from the whole school community) not only prevent waste from heading to landfill, instead diverting to relevant recycling points – they also ensure good quality items are re-used via the Church Shoebox Appeal. Mr Swales has expended participation from just St Chad’s to other schools in the Trust.
By focusing on the cost of living, “The Recyclists” are promoting initiatives that up cycle materials into new materials that can be supplied to local schools to support them. They want to highlight the issues around waste and how we can reuse materials previously considered to be 'junk’. This ambitious project addresses goals 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production”, 13 “Climate Action” and 15 “Life on Land”.
“Change the school, then change the world” – not only have the Eco Council been awarded the Green Flag from “Eco Schools”, through their regular meetings they have initiated activities such as participation in The Great School Clean Up, reducing energy usage, and increasing knowledge around the sustainability issues faced within Marine Life. They are a shining example of real sustainability action in action at school and other schools within our Trust are keen to learn from what they have achieved so far.
The Lightcliffe Academy Eco Group have shown a keen interest in the widest range of sustainability issues. From undertaking a site visit with a focus on Improving Recycling, Energy Use and Wildlife Identification at their academy, to learning about their academy specific approach to energy reduction, looking at how their academy is addressing food and material waste in the canteen, and participating in the National Eco Park scheme with the Natural History Museum.
For a fantastic effort in making their local area a clean, green place for the whole community to enjoy. They collected over 20 bags of rubbish from areas near school including The Stray park. They used this activity to learn about the quantity and types of rubbish they collected.
“Meatless”are undoubtedly a group of passionate students who want to make a difference. Addressing the UNs' Sustainable Development Goals 2 “Zero Hunger”, 12 “Responsible Consumption” and 13 “Climate Action” – they are keen to educate their academy community on the impact that our diet and lifestyle can have on our environment. Their plans to created community gardens, produce recipe cards for meals with less meat and education for others on meatless alternatives will undoubtedly have a positive impact on their school community. As a Trust we support their ethos and all our academies catering run “Meat Free Mondays” for lunches at both primary and secondary academies.
Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who entered. Your dedication to sustainability is making a huge difference to the lives and futures of our students, staff and wider communities.
