Summary of activities

We are delighted to share with Vanguard Learning Trust’s community a summary of the activities that are happening during our first environmental sustainability week. The Trust has a number of aims for the week, primarily to raise awareness of environmental sustainability and work together as a Trust-wide community towards a common goal. We have a number of wellknown individuals supporting the week and we have been sending their videos to promote the week through the Trust’s website (click here) and Twitter account (click here).

This booklet outlines the different activities being organised collectively and schools are also leading on other school-based activities; for example Vyners is organising the seeding of wild flowers in the wooded area with Year 7 students, whilst Ruislip High School is organising a community litter pick.

The activity for the whole community - students, staff, families, governors, members and trustees

How low can we go? challenge: This is the ‘call to action’ to all members of the community to make changes in their behaviour and/or awareness to reduce their carbon footprint, with the overarching question of how low can we go?

Videos: There will be a number of videos that all members of the community can watch. Alex Green, Programme Manager, Ashden Climate Solutions in Action, has recorded a presentation for the Trust on the work of the charity as well as focusing on the three objectives for the week. There will be a challenge launched on Monday 27th February 2023 including daily quizes.

Activity for students

Design an environmentally sustainable building challenge for Year 5 and 8 students: This is an exciting opportunity for our Year 5 and 8 students to take part in a national competition about sustainable buildings. This includes a session with Ruislip High School’s EcoHub Co-ordinator, Stephanie Stone-Weyl.

Emission Control game for Key Stage 1 and 2 students: Ryefield Primary School is hosting this challenge involving two teams of primary-aged students from each Trust school; the teams will take part in the game - Emission Control - that the school designed and produced as part of a Trust-wide competition in 2021.

Activity for staff

Staff R&R, reuse and/or repurpose, platform: A platform will be set up in each school for staff to share items for reuse with no monetary exchange. This will also be extended to facilities teams in schools to donate items that could be reused by other schools.

Activity for students and staff

Book swap: Schools will be organising a student book swap activity to promote reusing items. Schools are also setting up a facility for staff to swap books with colleagues.

Catering: All schools’ caterers are offering environmentally-sustainable food options.

There will be an opening ceremony which will involve a torch relay between schools to open the week officially including a pledge being read by each school’s headteacher.