Over the past year, students at Monkspath Junior and Infant School have demonstrated their sustainability credentials by taking part in the Zero Carbon Schools Programme, organised by Green Schools Project.
The programme helps pupils learn about the causes of climate change, the effect it’s having on the natural world and what action can be taken to mitigate its impacts. Monkspath pupils then investigated and measured the carbon footprint of the school, coming out at 563 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) and came up with several eco initiatives within their school.
This included a focus on food waste, where the students sold their vegetable plants grown from seeds and their vegetarian recipe book at the school summer fair. Some of their plants were also featured at BBC Gardeners World Live at the NEC as part of the ‘Pollinators Palace Wheelbarrow Garden’. The pupils have also made posters and leaflets about plastic pollution and healthy lunchboxes. In addition, year four students have documented the biodiversity found on the school grounds and measured the decibels of sounds they’ve found outside.
You can find out more about the Zero Carbon Schools Programme and how to register an interest if you are a teacher on the Green Schools Project website.
Councillor Andy Mackiewicz, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Climate Change & Planning, said:
“The Zero Carbon Schools programme is a great initiative, giving enthusiastic pupils a chance to learn more about climate change, the impact their own school has and provide ideas on how to do their bit for the environment.
“Monkspath Junior and Infant School has once again shown their leadership on climate change and sustainability, having recently picked up Your Future Solihull awards and Greener Solihull School Awards.
“I’d encourage all schools in the borough to sign up for the programme in the future and build further interest and awareness about climate change amongst the next generation of Silhillians. As future custodians of the borough it’s brilliant to see how engaged our young people are about this topic.”
Henry Greenwood, Founder and Managing Director of Green Schools Project, said:
“The Green Schools Project want to help the Council with their ‘Your Future Solihull’ campaign and its existing strong and robust climate action plan, maintaining Solihull’s position as one of the leading local authorities in the country.
“Building this partnership will ensure that pupils, parents, and the local community learn more about the climate crisis and take steps to reduce carbon emissions and live more sustainably.
“The aim for the next academic year is to develop this partnership to work with more schools in the local authority. This will support schools to improve climate education while measuring their carbon footprint and taking steps to reduce it.”
If you’d like to keep up to date with all the climate change and sustainability news from the Council, sign up to the Your Future Solihull newsletter.