Heatherton wins Sustainability Award

Heatherton has rounded off its Great Big Green Week in the best possible way, celebrating a win in Education Choices’ Supporting Sustainability Award category. 

This is a fantastic achievement, recognising the incredible work our community does to protect the planet. From the many planting initiatives taking place across the site to the sustainable opportunities embedded within the curriculum, Heatherton offers girls a wide range of ways to engage with environmental issues. On an infrastructural level, the Berkhamsted Schools Group is one of the few school groups certified to ISO 14001, demonstrating that we meet an internationally recognised standard of environmental management and responsibility. 

One of Heatherton’s greatest strengths in sustainability is the opportunity for children of all ages to get involved in driving change. Our Eco Council is fantastically proactive, establishing a range of new initiatives such as Meat-Free Mondays, conducting weekly energy readings, and lobbying for Heatherton to be fitted with a new ‘green’ roof. This week has been no different, with the girls organising a variety of activities as part of Great Big Green Week. 

Pupils have led a number of initiatives to mark this important occasion, including book and seed swaps, as well as a school-wide ban on plastic wrappers. However, one of the highlights of the week has been the Walk to School events, which encouraged families to meet at a local park and walk to school together. Girls collected House Points (of course, represented by recycled bottle caps) each time they joined a group walk. On Wednesday, families also enjoyed a visit from our food truck, Big Blue, which kept walkers fuelled with delicious pastries and coffee for the adults. 

It has been wonderful to see the Heatherton community come together for these sustainable events and to witness the girls leading the way. Then again, who are we to doubt them? As one Year 4 pupil remarked earlier this week while walking to school in the pouring rain, “Nothing stops a Heatherton Girl!”