ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY AT EMANUEL

Emanuel School is committed to instilling a sense of collective responsibility and ambition in our pupils, staff and wider community to achieve an environmentally sustainable future. We believe it is our duty to raise awareness of the challenges that our environment faces and are determined to take positive action to address these so that sustainability and environmental considerations are embedded into our everyday school culture.

Environment and sustainability are high on the Emanuel agenda and there are a host of initiatives across the School working to identify and implement methods to reduce our environmental footprint and work towards a sustainable future.

The Eco committee creates ways to inform our school community about wider environmental issues as well as to celebrate the successes and positive changes that are being achieved in the move towards a more sustainable planet. Examples of initiatives include:

Wasteless Week - a popular event that encourages pupils to become part of a solution to waste reduction by asking for only what they think they can eat at lunchtime. It has resulted in a reduction of food waste by over 40% during this initiative. Gardening Club – the team are making good use of our beautiful Eco Garden where they are working hard to increase biodiversity by growing plants to encourage pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies as well as learning to be more self-sustaining through fruits and vegetables.

A group of Year 6 pupils have completed the Transport for London’ STARS accreditation scheme which inspires young Londoners to travel to school sustainably, actively, responsibly and safely by championing walking, scooting and cycling.

For all residential trips, we now ask for contributions to support two carbon offsetting schemes, protecting the Tambopata-Bahuaja Biodiversity Reserve in Peru and a wind power project in Thailand.

By demonstrating best practice that engages all stakeholders and incorporates all our activities, we can be proactive in minimising the ecological impact of our school operations and ensure that understanding and the practice of sustainability lies at the heart of everything we do at Emanuel.