Have you ever wondered how to really make a difference at school? Are you trying to think of ways to make your CV stand out ready for university applications but don’t know how? Joining or starting an eco-committee in your school or Sixth Form could be the solution.
With over 30,000 schools in the UK, it is not surprising that collectively, schools and sixth forms make a significant contribution to the carbon footprint in this country. But how can you implement practices that reduce emissions and make your school greener?
At Westbourne, our eco-committee is composed of student volunteers passionate about turning their school into a sustainable school. Inspired by proactive global initiatives such as World Environment Day, we take a look at how students can impact their school by improving sustainability and creating an eco schools action plan.
1. Lights Out In the Boarding House
Something as simple as turning off the lights in the boarding house, or those classrooms that are not in use, can significantly reduce the amount of energy being wasted in a school. At Westbourne, we use signage around the school so that pupils and staff alike are conscious about turning off the lights when they leave a room.
Consider not only switching lights off, but replacing existing light bulbs with energy saving ones in order to be more energy efficient. Smart plugs can also turn off screens and displays when not in use. Often, this can be used as a teaching tool in the STEM school curriculum.
The best STEM practices and technology use within sustainable schools can also help towards achieving green school status and earn eco-school awards.
2. Switch off STEM equipment
Instead of leaving computers, whiteboards and TVs on standby, make sure to turn them off properly. Although technology appears to be off when in standby mode, TVs, computers and laptops still use energy that could otherwise be saved. For schools with impressive IT departments or a STEM focus, there could be hundreds of devices using power at any one time.
Encouraging Sixth Form or GCSE students who are taking part in self study to follow the same rules will also help to minimise energy consumption. The IB Diploma area at Westbourne has several energy outlet spots dotted around the room that students are always encouraged to turn off when they are not using them.
3. Recycling in an independent school
Make sure that there are labelled recycling bins throughout the school. A big part of the issue with waste management is that people are unsure which items go into which bin. By removing that confusion and signposting instructions clearly and succinctly around the corridors, students and staff will be much more inclined to recycle.
If cleaned and recycled properly, you can reuse recycled materials for craft exercises. At school or within boarding houses, there are plenty of educational, craft or recreational activities that can come from reusing waste, no matter what your age! It’s a great way to reduce waste, have fun in the classroom, or get artistic at the weekend.
4. Composting in a Boarding School
Food waste is one of the biggest contributors to landfills in the UK and dramatically contributes to greenhouse gas emissions as it rots. One of the best ways to counter these emissions is through the use of compost bins. Using compost bins encourages sustainability at school as the compost can be used to grow plants and vegetables for boarding school students to help towards a self-sustaining school. This can also be used as an educational tool in STEM lessons, as a wellbeing activity or as part of a school gardening club in the extra-curricular programme.
5. Westbourne School Reduces Paper Usage
On average, most schools use around 2000 sheets of paper every single day. Be it worksheets, newsletters, leaflets or just for jotting down notes, the amount of paper used in most schools can be seen as excessive. Try swapping out paper for alternatives such as using iPads or tablets, or even reusable alternatives such as whiteboards for classroom activities. This will dramatically reduce the amount of paper waste your school creates leading you towards a greener school status.
At Westbourne, paper usage is significantly reduced when pupils utilise technology and reusable materials. Completing registers, administration and classwork online, as well as using wipeable individual whiteboards, means that paper usage by the school is already minimal in comparison to other local schools in Cardiff and Penarth.
6. Consider Eco-friendly Cleaning Products
Using environmentally friendly cleaning products will clean up your classroom and your school. Check the label for harmful chemicals because more often than not, cleaning products can contain toxins. By using green alternatives, we can protect the environment from dangerous chemicals that can damage the atmosphere or harm the local wildlife.
At Westbourne, the cleaning products we use are carefully considered before purchase. Simply reading the ingredients and considering greener alternatives prevent us from using chemicals that are harmful to the environment.
7. Boarding School Donations
As a boarder, towards the end of the year you might be faced with a pile of belongings you no longer want or need. One great tip for minimising waste at a boarding school is by donating any unwanted items at the end of the year to local charity shops or big relief charities such as the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund. This way, unwanted clothes are not just tossed into landfill sights but re-used by those in genuine need of them.
The Westbourne Eco-Committee has been responsible for implementing this initiative in our boarding house in Penarth. At the end of the year, many of our students realised they no longer needed certain bedroom items or clothing, and instead of throwing them out, they donated their things to local charity shops.
8. Food waste Apps in the Boarding House
As a weekend treat or for a special celebration, it’s not uncommon for school or boarding pupils to try out local takeaway options (the healthier the better, of course!). But what if you could save yourselves some pennies and help the environment whilst doing this? The ‘Too Good To Go‘ App is a great alternative for the likes of Deliveroo and Just Eat, with local companies selling an array of tasty meal options that would otherwise be thrown out – all for a discounted price. The benefit of this is a reduction of food being thrown into landfill and the prevention of more food being cooked and delivered unnecessarily.
At Westbourne, members of the eco-committee have implemented Too Good To Go as an alternative to other delivery companies, making the most of local eateries in Penarth and Cardiff.
So, how does creating a sustainable school help you?
Having excellent GCSEs, A Levels or IB Diploma results on your CV is not the only way to help you gain a place at a top UK university. Displaying your passions and interests on a global stage is important too.
Turning your place of education into an eco-school and forming a school eco-committee is very likely to strengthen a university application. For UCAS, it is no longer just about grades but what makes you a well-rounded individual that gets you noticed.
Helping to tackle climate change within your school or boarding house by implementing sustainable school ideas will not only enhance your CV but also encourage you to develop a deeper awareness of key environmental issues.
Adopting even one of these top tips in your school can make a massive difference to the contribution your school makes towards climate change. So what are you waiting for? Talk to your teacher or eco-committee today and make your school’s future greener – and brighter!