With the world’s attention focused on Glasgow and the COP26 Conference, we too have been discussing the impact of climate change and what we can do to help reduce our own carbon footprint here at Notting Hill & Ealing.

Just before half term, our Geography Department and Reps led an informative whole school assembly explaining what COP26 is and its importance. It also focused on addressing turning eco anxiety into eco action so students felt they could make a difference from things like purchasing second hand clothes, walking to school etc.

Meanwhile in class we have been looking at the pledges that are coming out of COP26 and evaluating the potential impact. Alongside this we are asking big synoptic questions such as –

To what extent do you think government officials are the most important people in battling climate change?

Not all country leaders are in attendance to COP26. Does this undermine the conference?

Also last week the Year 13s, as part of their PSHCEE session reflected on the small changes that they could each make as individuals to help tackle climate change. From commitments to buying less fast fashion, to increasing their use of public transport, consuming a more plant-based diet and remembering to use reusable cups, there was a range of different potential solutions that, when put together, to have a real impact.

COP26 – The Real World Podcast

This week our Geography Reps Anouska, Sophie and Esmée are also completing an episode on COP26 as part of The Real World Podcast. This eighth episode covers previous agreements from COP conferences to put COP26 into context. The students then discuss the speakers and influential people at COP26 and their opinions. The main segment focuses on the outcomes of the first week of COP26 including agreements made and countries involved before discussing the limitations of the conference with regards to future change. You can hear all eight episodes here on Spotify.

Energy Sparks

On a practical level, we are excited about our recent sign up to ‘Energy Sparks,’ an initiative enabled by the GDST, whereby students will be able to track the school’s energy use space by space, hour by hour, and help us reduce our carbon footprint. 

Energy Sparks is an online energy analysis tool and energy education programme specifically designed to help schools reduce their electricity and gas usage through the analysis of smart meter data. The tool helps schools reduce their carbon emissions, and make a real contribution to addressing the ‘climate emergency.’ The Energy Sparks charity also aims to provide school pupils with life skills in understanding energy, learning about the problems of energy generation and climate change.

As a result, our Eco Reps will be empowered to identify opportunities for energy saving at school. There will also be a number of activities which they can undertake to earn us points, reduce energy usage and compete against other GDST schools.

Our Eco Reps will also be doing an assembly on 22nd November about COP26 and will be using data and facts from Energy Sparks to share with the school and show them how much energy we use! 

The Great Walk to School – November 12th

This Friday November 12th is “The Great Walk to School,” where staff and students are encouraged to come to school in as eco-friendly a way as possible, whether it is walking, cycling, scooting or taking public transport. This is a schoolwide initiative from Ealing STARS in support of COP26.  We will be creating an Active Travel Tree on Friday break time in the dining room where students and staff can put a different coloured sticker on our tree indicating how they got to school (red = car, orange = public transport, green = walking) – the greener the tree the better! This walk will also contribute to activities for both our Energy Sparks programme and our TfL Stars award. 

Our Junior School will be getting involved with an awesome Santa Walk later this term! More details to follow.