Sustainability

Introducing Our Sustainability Leads and Our Commitment to a Greener School

We are pleased to announce an important step in our commitment to a more sustainable future at Wallington High School for Girls: the appointment of two official Sustainability Leads, Mrs J Henderson and Mrs T Corfield.

This development supports the Department for Education’s (DfE) Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, which requires all education settings to have a nominated Sustainability Lead and a Climate Action Plan in place by 2025. As a school community, we are proud to be taking proactive steps towards meeting—and exceeding—these expectations.

Our Sustainability Vision

Our ambition is to embed sustainability across every aspect of school life—from our curriculum and operations to our engagement with families and the wider community. We aim not only to reduce our environmental impact but also to equip our students with the knowledge, understanding, and confidence they need to navigate a world shaped by climate change.

Our newly appointed Sustainability Leads will play a key role in coordinating this work and supporting our long-term goals.

What Will Our Sustainability Leads Do?

Working closely with the school’s leadership team and the Girls’ Learning Trust, Mrs Henderson and Mrs Corfield will drive forward our climate and sustainability strategy by:

Developing and implementing our school’s Climate Action Plan

Integrating meaningful and age-appropriate climate education throughout the curriculum

Coordinating initiatives to improve energy efficiency, biodiversity, and waste reduction across the school

Engaging and empowering students and staff to take practical action

Building partnerships with community groups to share expertise and best practice

Our Work in Line with National Guidance

The DfE’s strategy sets out four key action areas, all of which will underpin our approach:

Decarbonisation – Reducing carbon emissions through improved energy efficiency and monitoring, while exploring renewable energy opportunities.

Climate Education and Green Careers – Ensuring students have a rich understanding of climate science and access to guidance on emerging green career pathways.

Resilience to Climate Change – Adapting our school site for the future, including reducing the risk of overheating and improving climate resilience.

A Better Environment – Enhancing biodiversity through planting projects, tree growth, and improving air quality on our site.

How Parents and Carers Can Get Involved

Our sustainability plans will be most successful when supported by the whole school community. We warmly invite parents and carers to join us on this journey in the following ways:

Join our Sustainability Team – Later this year, we will establish a parent and community sub-group to support our sustainability projects. Volunteers will be very welcome.

Share your expertise – Parents with skills in areas such as gardening, construction, project management, or environmental policy are encouraged to get in touch.

Support sustainable habits at home – Encourage recycling, reduced use of single-use plastics, and energy and water conservation.

Choose sustainable travel where possible – Walking, cycling, or using public transport for the school run helps reduce our carbon footprint.

Stay updated – Look out for regular news, progress updates, and tips in our newsletters and on our website.

Looking Ahead

This marks the beginning of an exciting and important journey for our school. By working together—students, staff, parents, and our wider community—we can build a more sustainable, resilient environment for current pupils and for generations to come.