Message from the headteacher

I am forfeiting my newsletter ‘bit’ today to draw attention to our drive at the moment to recognise the momentous occurrence of COP26. Here is Molly from our sixth form to tell you more:

“With COP-26 currently headlining, climate change is at the forefront of many people’s minds. For the school’s newly rebooted Eco-Schools committee, this has only increased our drive to try and make a positive impact on Highfields environmental sustainability.

250,000 additional lives are predicted to be lost each year from 2030 to 2050 as a direct result of extreme weather events, magnified by climate change. For the benefit of our own futures and those of thousands of others, any small change should be championed when for the purpose of minimising climate change.

Our committee is focused on action rather than discussion and plans to take steps, working with our fellow students and teachers to start a green revolution at Highfields. It resonates strongly among many students that, with an ice-free Arctic predicted for 2040, we should do what we can which, in our case, is minimising waste and energy consumption within the school. With the help of staff and governors, we would like to not only raise awareness, but make change in a responsible way.

Over the coming weeks, we will be finalising the results from our environmental review and creating a dynamic and effective action plan to help Highfields change for the better. We intend to gain a ‘Green Flag Award’ for the school. Our Eco-Schools committee will include members from all year groups, teachers and governors, collating views and ideas from across both sites.

Humans waste 7.2 million tonnes of food every year, an embarrassing figure, worsened by the fact that over half of it is perfectly edible. We would like to minimise our community’s contribution to such shocking statistics through our committee and through the help of everyone at home reading this. Your support and encouragement of this exciting project is much needed to help us make a noticeable change, not only in school but throughout the Highfields community.” Molly.

I have personally taken over the chair of the Eco-Schools committee which struggled to move forward during lockdown. We meet each Wednesday at 1pm and link between lower site (meeting room) and upper site (C2) via Zoom. Please encourage your child to come along. If you are a parent/carer who may be able to help us please email jwheatcroft@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk for a copy of the Zoom link for you to join us.

Thanks to Lily, Max, Molly and others who are leading this timely reboot of our Eco-Schools committee.

A Marsh Headteacher