Sustainability at Berkhamsted

Berkhamsted has a commitment to incorporating sustainable practices into its core teaching, learning and operational and charitable activities 

2023 saw the publication of Berkhamsted Schools Group’s first Sustainability Report. The report showcases the steps Berkhamsted has taken so far on its sustainability journey, as well as its future sustainability plans. 

The School supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and in setting our performance targets has made sure to align some of these with the UN SDG’s by identifying the ones where Berkhamsted School has and can have the greatest impact. Alongside this, Berkhamsted has a strong commitment to incorporating Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) into all aspects of the School’s functions and decision making. Full details of these can be found in the report, but selected highlights are outlined below. Crucially, Berkhamsted seeks to get pupils at all levels involved with sustainability efforts. Through this, Berkhamsted can equip pupils with the knowledge of what is needed for a more sustainable future, as well as creating an important sense of local community and responsibility. 

Berkhamsted Schools Group’s Sustainability Report

SUSTAINABILITY AT BERKHAMSTED

Environmental

Berkhamsted is dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and developing energy efficiency through the installation of solar panels, waste reduction and responsible resource management. Additionally, we are committed to providing a safe, sustainable multi-model transport provision that will reduce the carbon footprint of the school run, as well as increasing biodiversity and conservation efforts across the school estate.

 

SUSTAINABILITY AT BERKHAMSTED

Social

Berkhamsted seeks to be an inclusive environment where all are heard and supported. We value diversity and inclusion within our community, and have appointed a Director of EDI to ensure equal opportunities for all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic or any other status.

Berkhamsted works hard to promote and facilitate social mobility through various initiatives including awarding life-changing bursaries to pupils from local schools. We work closely with the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation each year to widen access. We also recognises the importance of staff and student well-being and employ several strategies to encourage and promote this across the School.

We provide a broad education, ensuring our students are equipped with the knowledge and skillset required to transition into the next stages of life. Berkhamsted School highly values community involvement, and we have active partnerships with various schools, charities, businesses and other local groups.

SUSTAINABILITY AT BERKHAMSTED

Governance

At Berkhamsted School, we are committed to incorporating sustainability within all core activities of teaching, learning and operations. Berkhamsted’s Governors are made up of company directors and charity trustees of the Berkhamsted Schools Group. The School aims to always have 12-15 Governors on the Board with each Governor bringing a wide variety of skills and experience to the table. Governors are involved in a schedule of engagement visits to the School in order to keep them updated with school life and procedures.

Berkhamsted School has a strong commitment to incorporating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies into all aspects of the School’s functions and decision making. As part of this, Berkhamsted has established a school-wide Sustainability Committee.

 

Find out more about how Berkhamsted is incorporating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies into teaching, learning, operational and charitable efforts by accessing the drop-down menu below: 

Environmental

A selection of environmental activities and initiatives include: 

 

  • An estate-wide conservation survey, conducted in partnership with the Wildlife Trust. This will be shared with the local community upon its release.
  • Prep School Eco Team and after-school Eco Club. 
  • Heatherton’s Forest School and Eco Council. 
  • Girls, Boys and Sixth: Swiftly Sustainable and Eco Schools Programme Initiative.  
  • A coach service and inclusion of electric vans and bikes in school fleet to help reduce carbon emissions. 
  • A range of energy efficiency initiatives already in progress or development. 
  • A food waste reduction campaign, as well as initiatives to reduce paper and water usage, alongside promotion of the Eco-Schools scheme which aims to teach children personal responsibility in managing waste, as well as promoting sustainable use of resources.  
Social

A key part of Berkhamsted’s social responsibilities include exploring the role that Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, as well as wider education and staff and student wellbeing, play in ensuring that all members of the school community can contribute to and develop sustainability efforts within Berkhamsted School and beyond it. These efforts include: 

 

  • Pupils receiving extensive education around equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). 
  • The establishment of multiple committees and community groups in recent years to ensure that EDI topics are being discussed and progressed.  
  • These include SEDIC (Standing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee), an Anti-Racism group, as well as LGBTQ+ community support groups. 

By engaging with and utilising as wide a variety of voices and experiences as possible, a greater range of solutions and innovations can be developed.   

Establishing and developing community partnerships is of high importance at Berkhamsted. This can include working alongside local charities, schools and community groups. Recent examples of this include students working with the Chiltern Chalk Stream Society and Sunnyside Rural Trust, as well as Berkhamsted hosting students and staff from Virtual School Hertfordshire.  

Meanwhile, a full list of charities supported can be found on page 18 of the Report, alongside the School’s Placement Partners for pupils.  

Governance

The Committee’s responsibilities include:  

 

  • Supporting and integrating sustainability practices within all aspects of school life and the school community. 
  •  Ensuring key groups such as the Governors, external agencies and key stakeholders are kept informed on this progress.  
  • Aiding further developments in sustainability related commitments, policies and strategies.  
  • Advising on the development and implementation of cultural change to embed sustainability into all that Berkhamsted does.  

Case Study: Chartwells and Drop4Drop

Chartwells, Berkhamsted Schools Group catering team, partner with a company called Drop4Drop who fund sustainable clean water solutions to countries that need it most. This project is now complete and operational providing clean water to 316 people.  Village details below:

  • Bwetyaba 3 Village, Mpigi District, Uganda
  • Community Name: Bwetyaba 3 Village
  • Location: Mpigi District, Uganda
  • Population: 316
  • GPS: N 00.03575° E 031.87594°

You can view the completed project on Drop4Drop’s website here.

Case Study: SchoolRunTracker

For the benefit of parents where our home to school coach network does not meet their needs. 

This new app, which is part of the Berkhamsted School Transport app, is designed to help parents manage the school run by sharing it with other parents within the school. In addition to car sharing, you can you use it to coordinate travel on public transport, cycling and even walking to school.

Berkhamsted Schools Group is committed to mitigating our environmental impact, especially in reducing carbon emissions, one of the main drivers of climate change. Encouraging our community to use sustainable modes of travel means fewer cars travelling to our sites, contributing to improved air quality and reducing congestion on local roads.

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SUSTAINABILITY AT BERKHAMSTED

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