SUSTAINABILITY
We are committed to a sustainable future and have been awarded the Eco Schools highest accolade, the Green Flag, year on year.
At Sydenham High School we are committed to making small changes to make a big difference, not only to our local south London community but also to the planet. In 2019 our pupils made it clear that environmental issues were at the forefront of their minds and so, following on from recycling bins in all offices and classrooms, and banning plastic water bottles in 2017, we planned our Eco Commitment, and the green thread of sustainability runs through our school life today.
We are determined to make long-lasting change and have worked on multiple areas to tackle our carbon footprint and impact on the environment through taking the following steps, which saw us become Finalists in the Independent Schools Parent Awards for Environmental Achievement and be awarded the highest Eco Schools accolade, the Green Flag Award every year.
There is always more that can be done but we are proud that we are doing our bit to make a change and we are especially proud that many of the changes have been led by our eco warrior pupils.
Our Eco-Committee
It’s wonderful that you have appointed such a representative Eco-Committee, this shows your school’s excellent commitment to both the programme and the eco-cause. – The Eco- Schools Team
Each year, our Eco-Committee works diligently to drive sustainability initiatives across the school, and receiving the Green Flag annually is a true testimony to their commitment and achievements.
It takes the whole community to make a difference to our environment, and we know we will continue to strive for even more positive change.
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- All lighting is being replaced with LED bulbs.
- We promote ‘switch off Friday’ to consider and reduce energy consumption.
- We no longer print our prospectus. Any printed inserts are through a carbon balanced company.
- Our minibuses have been replaced with low emission versions.
- Parents collecting pupils have been reminded to switch off their engines when waiting outside the school, and warning signs are in place.
- Mondays are now Meat Free. Every day has vegan and vegetarian options.
- We grow vegetables in our specially made Eco Zone allotment.
- Prep School promote ‘cutting plastic out of Christmas’ with washi tape instead of sellotape and non-plastic coated wrapping paper.
- Staff recycle books in a ‘bring and swap’ library in the Staffroom.
- Regular ‘new to you’ clothing swaps are held at Senior School, one as a fundraiser for the South Africa netball tour, raising money and recycling unwanted clothes and the others simply to encourage a reduction in ‘fast fashion’.
- Eco Weeks include repair workshops to make do and mend and the DT curriculum includes upcycling.
- All food waste is now recycled. Waste Not, Want Not carbon buster challenge in 2022 reduced leftover food on plates by 45 %
- Recycling bins are in every classroom and labelled with clear instructions of what goes in each to prevent contamination.
- Food wrappers are now biodegradable.
- No clingfilm is used.
- We have recycled paper napkins.
- We are set up as a drop off location for recycling crisp packets through Terracycle.
