Sustainability
Sustainability at Berkswell
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”
Genesis 2:15)
At Berkswell school, sustainability is woven into everything we do. Our commitment to environmental stewardship is deeply rooted in our Christian values. We believe that we are all guardians of God's Earth, tasked with its care and preservation. Through small, daily actions, the children at Berkswell School learn that they have the power to make a big difference in the world.
GROWING GREEN MINDS
Aspects of sustainability are mapped out across the curriculum throughout the school. From early exploration of the natural world in EYFS (Reception) to data collection/analysis of energy usage in KS2, we equip our pupils with the knowledge, values and practical skills to care for our planet.
This knowledge is further developed through the courageous advocacy model. The children learn that they can challenge and take meaningful, informed action. We empower them to speak out and act as catalysts for positive change.
Some of the projects that the children have chosen to champion include:
- Protection of our seas – campaigning for designated recycling bins on site, and designing and selling canvas tote bags to raise funds for endangered sea turtles through WWF,
- Reduction of global hunger – growing from seed and selling vegetable plants to fundraise for Save the Children, and sponsoring an African child, and
- Reduction of carbon emissions to slow down global warming – car share days and “Switching Off” campaigns.
HANDS-ON ECO LEARNING
We are blessed to have access to lots of green spaces, both on and around the school grounds, which the children make great use of. Stone age dens, for example, are built in the Spinney and the surrounding countryside is explored on many spring and autumn walks.
The school is engaged with the National Education Nature Park programme, helping to track biodiversity improvement across schools nationally, and we have taken steps with the children to further increase biodiversity on our own school site. This has included the creation of wildflower beds, the regeneration of the pond area and replanting missing hedging.
Different year groups maintain our allotment area, planting up four raised beds to learn about organic food production.
We also have our own Peace Garden, which provides a quiet, mindful space for children to reflect, as well as providing a micro-habitat for local wildlife.
RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT
We are delighted to have been awarded level 4 of the Greener Solihull School Awards.
This recognises all the hard-work and passion that the children show every day to become world changers and the part they play to protect God's world.
WHOLE SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT
Sustainability extends beyond the classroom at Berkswell:
- Pupil-led Eco-Team: Representatives from years 1 to 6 are selected each year to join the school's pupil-led Eco-Team, which meets regularly to discuss “green” projects, drive sustainability and build climate awareness across the school community.
- Berkswell Boutique: The school have set up a second-hand uniform shop, which sells donated, good quality items of school uniform via the school office and through pop-up stalls.
- Extra-curricular clubs: There are a number of different extra-curricular clubs, which the children can enjoy, including some with a sustainability focus, such as Little Critters club and/or gardening club.
- Community events: The school likes to involve the local community and shares their message about being guardians of God's Earth at events, such as coffee afternoons in the School's Peace Garden and musical concerts, singing about “Our World” and the impact our actions have on it. Children also get involved in events such as community litter picks.
- Whole-school campaigns: such as car share days and “switching off”.
“The Earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.”(Psalm 24:1)
