The 2025 Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) emphasises aims to integrate climate change education by focusing on sustainability, climate science, and the green economy, with the final report expected in spring 2027.
Impressively, WCHS as a whole community from students, teachers, support staff, senior leaders, Governors and parents have already been involved in various climate linked curricular and extra-curricular activities, with the help of a Student Project Coordinator (J Ford) and Sustainability Lead (Z Razzaque), since the DfE published its Climate Change Strategy in 2023.
Our aim is to:
- Educate and empower our students to take action on sustainability linked issues and become responsible local and global citizens
- Further develop a climate-conscious curriculum across all subjects including green careers and upskill staff
- Decarbonise and become more energy efficient and less wasteful
- Improve and protect biodiversity
- Develop a Climate Action Plan with both students and staff
Student Eco-committee
Students have worked on many projects and achieved the national eco schools green flag award at distinction level and TFL Pioneers Gold Standard.
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Other student projects also include:
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- Taking part in the UCL Youth Climate Action Plan Event
UEL Climate Anxiety Research Project 2025
- Litter cleaning campaign and Big School Clean
- Eco – Schools Cut Your Carbon (every November) https://www.eco-schools.org.uk/cut-your-carbon/
- Taking part in UEL research project on “Climate Anxiety” to help shape future initiatives
- Coordinating the annual and National Great Big Green Week https://www.greatbiggreenweek.com/
- Organising and running Great Big Green Week events
Every June we have had a whole school Great Big Green Week event to celebrate green initiatives with the support of the broader community and to encourage behaviour changes through fun activities. These have included:
- Redbridge council run “Love Food Not Waste” composting workshop
- Biodiversity and upcycling workshops run by local volunteers
- Silver Badges and Y12 Legacy Garden Competition
- Student led nature photography competition
- Outdoor lessons: MFL and Science
- Poetry Competitions run by English Department
- Fairtrade Bake Sales and plastic-free picnics
- Upcycling Competitions
- Meat Free Monday run by catering staff
- Plant swap and sale
Curriculum and Climate Change
WCHS are part of the UCL CCCSE (Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education) Schools Network and we are working with a network of UCL subject mentors, other school sustainability leads and we are contributing to the development of subject specific resources that will be available worldwide through UCL’s website. https://climateeducation.org.uk/
As a result, in a move to equip students with climate literacy skills, all subjects have drafted a sustainability focused curriculum which they have delivered in various forms incorporating the interrelationship between the environment, equity and economy (Three Es) and the UN’s SDGs.
WCHS is also part of the new UCL Pioneer School for Sustainability Pilot where the MFL, History and Science department will work together to develop an innovative curriculum in response to the climate crisis.
Decarbonisation and Efficiency
WCHS has replaced all lights with energy saving bulbs and as part of Solar for Schools https://www.solarforschools.co.uk/ we will shortly have solar panels installed which will not only contribute towards reducing our schools emissions but will also provide real-life data for our students analyse.
