Blackheath High School has met its target of making 140 environmental pledges across the year.
The London school’s ‘Year of Promise’ was instigated as part of its 140th anniversary commemorations.
“When we set the goal of 140 pledges, I had never considered that we would be celebrating reaching this goal so early on,” said headteacher Carol Chandler-Thompson, who has vowed not to print anything throughout the year.
Her deputy, Natalie Argile, promised to reduce her carbon footprint by eating less meat, putting on a jumper instead of turning up the heating and buying locally-sourced produce.
Other pledges include not buying into fast fashion, reducing food waste, not using single-use plastic and launching a club to make bamboo bicycles.
Our commitment to making the world a better place can thrive even in the most challenging times – Carol Chandler-Thompson, headteacher, Blackheath High School
Individual oaths from staff, students, parents and alumnae are being augmented by two ‘whole school pledges’. The first is to put the study of ocean plastics on the school curriculum, the other “[works] towards significantly reducing single-use plastics across the whole school as we endeavour to improve our precious maritime environment”.
Both are being undertaken in collaboration with Common Seas, a not-for-profit enterprise bidding to combat plastic pollution worldwide.
“The girls’ ability to adapt to the difficulties brought on by the coronavirus crisis shows that the environmental challenge we face is a collective one, and our commitment to making the world a better place can thrive even in the most challenging times,” added Chandler-Thompson.
“Our Year of Promise ties into Blackheath High’s history of being committed to the benefit and success of our community and I am glad to see these core values remain as strong today as they were 140 years ago.”
Members of the school’s local community are being encouraged to join in by making their own pledges to support environmental sustainability. Anyone who’d like to participate is invited to email details of their pledge to BHSYearofPromise@bla.gdst.net
From the archive: Drama encourages empathy, says Blackheath High School
