Clifton College in Bristol has been named as a finalist for the Boarding Schools’ Association ‘Sustainability in Boarding Award’.
New for 2024, this award recognises the efforts made by boarding schools to make a meaningful and positive environmental impact both in school and within the local community.
Across the College, a broad range of sustainability initiatives and pupil-led programmes have been put in place to allow students to be central to College direction, giving them agency to create change in their community and empowering them to drive changes in values and attitudes. A new student-chaired committee feeds ideas into the wider College sustainability committee to support this.
The SEEd Young Change Makers Programme offers 25 students a chance to complete a one-year programme to gain a deeper understanding of sustainability and manage new projects. These include an educational podcast series interviewing eminent voices in sustainability, a student-written newsletter and compost and wormery using waste from boarding houses to produce plant food.
Students from the programme have spent time in the Prep School inspiring younger pupils with their work.
In the background, the College is also setting its own sustainable targets. This year for the first time, it is completing its first baseline carbon audit (Scope 1 to 3) identifying where its environmental harm lies. This allows it to have a more directed approach to reducing impact.
Collectively, the College is pulling together not just to provide pupils with skills for the modern world, but also ensuring the College is playing its part in building a more sustainable world for present and future Cliftonians.
Mr Bates, Assistant Head Sustainability, said, “To be a finalist for Sustainability in Boarding is a huge achievement by all involved across the College. I’m delighted that the hard work of our pupils and staff is being recognised in this way.
“We all have a shared interest in preparing our pupils for a rapidly changing modern world, but at the same time, we have to do what we can to ensure they have a world to pass on to their children. I hope this nomination will further inspire our pupils and staff to continue their amazing work. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far.”