Environment Week at Graveney

Students looking at their seedlings

Thank you to everyone that has contributed and engaged in our first-ever Environment Week.

We know that this is a significant issue for students both here and nationally. 70% of children report feeling worried about the world that they will inherit. This week was not only about how we might go about tackling change, it was also about recognising how our students feel about it. So we were delighted to receive an email from one of our sixth formers that said “we've all really noticed the increased care and effort with climate week, so wanted to say thanks for that”.

Over the week, a range of visiting speakers gave powerful talks on subjects as varied as re-icing the Arctic, developing new transport systems, creating new and more efficient batteries, retrofitting building, constructing net-zero policy and much more. In all, 18 sessions were delivered and 43 classes participated, and of course the students did us proud with their engagement and questions.

Our relationship with our environment is truly being emphasised across the whole curriculum; from bird boxes and garden signage being made in Tech, to coral reef research and drawing in Art, writing letters to the Earth in English, analysing climate data, critiquing green economic theories and so much more. We also used form time activities that helped us all to become more climate literate.

Thank you also to Geography who hosted climate justice workshops across all Year 8 classes, dealing with the difficult subjects of inequality, injustice and racism inherent in the climate crisis. These were delivered by passionate young volunteers from GenEarth. On a lighter note, LEAF members excitedly harvested and distributed carrots, lettuce, radishes and broad beans to anyone who wanted to pick up a trowel and get stuck in.

Pilot lessons have also taken place in the beautiful rejuvenated space behind Upper Science, soon to be opened up as an outdoor classroom, named the Osborne Garden in memory of our science technician, Paul Osborne, who originally developed it.