We are proud to announce that we have successfully achieved Climate Friendly Schools status, marking an important milestone in its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Over the past six months, the school’s dedicated Climate Friendly Action Group has worked tirelessly to explore how St Benet’s can become more environmentally conscious. Through collaboration, creativity and determination, children and staff completed ten meaningful climate-friendly actions, all designed to make a positive and lasting difference to the school community and beyond.

Among their achievements, the group organised pre-loved tuck shops, encouraging reuse and reducing waste while teaching children the value of giving items a second life. The school also took a significant step towards sustainability by planting fruit trees and growing vegetables on the school grounds, helping children understand where food comes from and the importance of caring for nature.

Energy awareness was another key focus. Children led campaigns to promote energy-saving habits across the school, reminding everyone to turn off lights, switch off unused equipment and think carefully about how energy is consumed. The group also highlighted the importance of reducing plastic use, encouraging reusable alternatives and raising awareness of the impact plastic pollution has on the planet.

The achievement of Climate Friendly Schools status reflects not only the success of these actions, but also the shared values of the whole school community. St Benet’s is inspired by the values championed by naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, particularly the belief that caring for the natural world is a shared responsibility and that small actions, when taken together, can lead to meaningful change.

Staff and children alike are immensely proud of this recognition. However, the school sees it not as an endpoint, but as the beginning of an ongoing journey. There are already many plans for the future, including expanding green spaces, continuing to reduce waste and further embedding sustainability into everyday school life.