Skip to content ↓

School Environment

Climate Change, Air Pollution and the School Environment

The school is committed to reducing the amount of waste that it produces, increasing recycling and reducing the amount of energy it uses during the school day. We are also taking steps to improve the air quality, increasing  areas for recreation and play and improving the food offered to the students during the school day.

We would like to share with you the improvements and changes that have been made over the last few years towards these aims.

Reducing waste

  • Every student in the main school has been given a reusable water bottle so that they do not have to purchase water or use disposable cups to take a drink. There are now 6 water fountains available on the school site to refill bottles and once the current stock of bottled water has sold through we will no longer sell bottled water in the school canteen.
  • Every student has also been given a reusable hessian bag that can be used instead of disposable plastic bags.
  • All food in the canteen is now sold in reusable, washable containers.
  • Disposable plastic and paper cups are no longer used for hospitality and staff events.
  • Unwanted school furniture has been sold via gumtree, or given away via freecycle or to charities. Obsolete IT equipment and computers are sent for recycling.
  • We have reupholstered the office, staff room and library furniture rather than buying new items.
  • The majority of the outside furniture used by the students at break and lunch time is made from recycled plastic bottles.

Increasing recycling

The school currently recycles paper and cardboard, glass bottles, plastic bottles and tin cans. From September we have started to recycle food waste and have increased the number of recycling bins we have on site.

Improving air quality

The school was awarded a grant of £8,400 towards the planting of green screens along Camden Road to reduce the levels of NO2 and Particulate Matter on the school site. The scheme was extended to the perimeter of Sandall Road and this work was completed in the summer break. The combination of ivy and jasmine will help to improve the air quality and also has the added benefit of making the school look more appealing and secure and encourages biodiversity.