Our Eco Commitment - Sydenham High School (2024)

Pupils intelligently consider and challenge thoughtless attitudes to the world’s natural resources

ISI

There are pupil ‘eco warriors’ throughout the school

ISI

Pupils’ strong awareness of human responsibility for threats to the environment is evident

ISI

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 started to plan our Eco Commitment.

To kick off the 2019 calendar year our former Head, Mrs Woodcock, challenged our school community to join her in a collective pledge to reduce the flow from the ‘plastic tap’, with the view to ensuring that this resolution will be long lasting. Since then, we 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.

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.

  • Reducing our impact
    • 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 throughTerracycle.
  • Action
    • In 2020-21 our Head of Geography became the first in London to become a United Nations Climate Change Accredited teacher and our year 10 Geographers also passed a UNCC module designed for post A Level!
    • In 2021-22, staff members are completing modules through eduCCate, led by our Sustainability Coordinator, Miss Gibbs.
    • Prep School created a fantastic video,Save the World, with the help of Mr Welch, which was featured on the Green episode of Blue Peter.
    • On the day of the previous Climate Change protest, pupils signed an eco petition which was sent to the Prime Minister as well as our local MP.
    • Prep School pupils have marched to Senior School, and to Sydenham High Street, with protest banners to raise awareness.
    • In 2020, year 12 Young Enterprise teams, Green Sweep and FreshBites, designed eco friendly reusable carrier bags and beeswax wraps and won several awards.
    • In 2021, year 12 Young Enterprise team, Compostivity were awarded numerous awards including thenational Young Enterprise Sustainability Award AND the Arconic Foundation Innovative Sustainability Business Idea Awardfor their composting pack, which introduces children (and adults too) to composting, growing fruit and vegetables.
    • We are members of the Sustainable Schools Alliance Network as part ofSEEd(Sustainability & Environmental Education).

  • Events
    • Our Eco Prefects host regular assemblies outlining the Eco Focus for the term and actions to take such as explaining exactly how to recycle effectively and not contaminate any bins
    • Lecture Series: the most recent in the series was a talk by Climate Consultant and alumna, Charlotte Lawson.
    • Eco Weeks are held termly at both Prep and Senior, including pupil-led assemblies and events such as writing eco pledges and fundraising for eco charities

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Our Eco Commitment - Sydenham High School (2024)

FAQs

What is the motto of Sydenham High School? ›

Our school motto, Nyle ye Drede, ('Fear nothing'), lies at the heart of all we do. A Sydenham High education is centred upon the pupil, where academic excellence and pastoral excellence go hand in hand.

What are the values of Sydenham High School? ›

Our pupils have independence of mind, the courage to take risks, a strong moral compass as well as a social conscience, and are accepting and respectful of themselves and others.

How many students attend Sydenham High School? ›

Who is the head teacher of Sydenham High School? ›

Antonia Geldeard - Head - Sydenham High School GDST | LinkedIn.

What is the motto of Down High School? ›

Reflected in our motto Absque Labore Nihil ('nothing is achieved without effort') is our belief that there is no limit to what can be accomplished through hard work.

What time do Sydenham girls finish? ›

How long is the school day? Girls are welcome on site from 7.30am but the school day begins at 8.25am and ends at 3.45pm, with clubs running from 4-5pm (except Homework Club which runs until 5.25pm). Currently we have staggered finish times to avoid clusters of pupils, with year 7 exiting the main gate at 3.50pm.

What is the history of Sydenham High School? ›

Sydenham High School was founded by the Girls' Public Day School Trust in 1887. Since then, the original school roll of 20 pupils has grown to 724 girls. The school is separated into the senior and prep schools, each with a separate site on Westwood Hill in Sydenham.

Is Dulwich College a public school? ›

Dulwich College - Independent School for boys.

Is Sydenham Girls a good school? ›

Sydenham High School is part of the Girls' Day School Trust, the leading group of independent girls' schools in the UK, and we are celebrating over 130 years of providing a first class independent education for girls from 4 to 18.

How old is Sydenham School? ›

Our History

The origins of the present day Sydenham School can be traced back as far as 1862.

What is the motto of CRC Sydenham? ›

The motto – “Every Student Every Pathway” is what the school strives to achieve in ensuring that pathways and goals are achieved. Our dedicated, experienced and highly skilled student services and careers team are the crucial link in ensuring student success.

What is the motto of Holy Innocent High School? ›

Motto. The school motto, 谦诚、和爱, conveys the Chinese traditional values of Sincerity and Compassion.

What is the motto of Burnside school? ›

The school motto Kōwhiria te huanui tika –Recte sic dirige cursum, (Along this path direct your journey correctly) reinforces the historical, cultural and spiritual significance of the cabbage trees for communities past and present.

What is the motto of the Redmaid's High School? ›

The school adopted a powerful motto, 'So Hateth She Derknesse', from a Chaucer poem, along with the virtuous daisy as a school symbol. These words and image epitomise the school's mission to open girls up to the light and empower them with learning.

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