By Kate Bevan, Head of Junior School

At Notting Hill & Ealing High School, our pupils care a great deal about the environment (indeed the Green Party did very well in the Junior School mock general election we had last year – politicians take note!). As a school, and across our Trust, we seek ways to support the girls’ interests and educate them on sustainability issues, but also actively promote hope and action, to guard against creating anxiety about the future.

Our Journey to Net Zero
The GDST has set an ambitious target of becoming net zero by 2050, and is making good progress. On Earth Day in 2022 we celebrated our first year as a CarbonNeutral® organisation and, by 2030, aim to have reduced our carbon footprint by 50%. There are many activities contributing to that goal, such as installing solar panels and LED lights where possible across the school estates. Our new Junior School building is also a clear statement of intent by the Trust. Not only does it provide an inspiring learning environment, it also uses 40% less energy compared to the old, inefficient buildings it replaced.

Educating for a Sustainable Future
Beyond infrastructure, we are embedding sustainability into our curriculum and school culture. This is partly driven by the girls, whose desire to be part of groups such as Eco Warriors Club and the Eco Council, or have bake sales in aid of endangered animals, show us their interest in the environment. It is also a national focus, with climate education featuring in the government’s sustainability strategy. Plus we know that there will be many future career paths in this area, so we want to provide some foundations for those.

In the Junior School, our new subject World Views and Citizenship explores sustainability topics in an age-appropriate way, ensuring our students understand the challenges while focusing on the solutions. We also use assemblies to share inspiring stories such as the Earthshot Prize finalists. These innovators show the girls the possibilities for progress and the parts people can play in finding solutions. It’s vital to instil hope and empowerment in our students, showing them that sustainability isn’t just about challenges — it’s also about opportunities. This year, the British finalist was a brilliant example of a woman’s career path in science and also showcased the diverse team leading her company.

Collaboration Across the GDST and Beyond
Central to combating climate anxiety is providing girls with opportunities to make a difference and to join with others so they see the impact scaled up. Each year, schools across the Trust come together for Just One Tree Day and the We Are One project. In the former, girls fundraise to plant trees (over 21,000 to date) and in the latter, Year 6s work on a climate change project that culminates in a day at one of our schools, to share their learning and feel empowered by the connection and camaraderie. At NHEHS, we also held an Eco Conference for local schools last year, inviting in speakers and holding workshops run by our staff, through which pupils could share what was working in their schools and, again, feel their strength in numbers.

Behind the scenes, adults from across the Trust are helping to create these opportunities and make an impact on a systemic level. I recently joined the Trust’s Green Steering Group, representing Junior School heads, where I work alongside colleagues in a variety of roles to develop strategies, implement initiatives, and evaluate their impact. At the Junior Heads’ conference I hosted last November, we all shared “sustainability little wins” from our schools, exchanging ideas to drive progress. (Fellow heads particularly loved the ideas that our girls had come up with themselves, such as World Book day costume swaps, and Christmas Jumper Day exchanges.) The conference also included CPD sessions at Kew Gardens, to equip us with further knowledge and inspiration to bring back to our communities.

Looking Ahead
The path to true sustainability is long and somewhat challenging, but it’s one we are proud to undertake together — with our students, parents, and the wider GDST community. By fostering a culture of care and innovation, and ensuring our girls feel empowered about the difference they can make, we hope to inspire the next generation to lead with courage and creativity in a rapidly changing world.