SJL Prospectus 2023-2024 (1) - Flipbook - Page 19
Education for a changing world
17
Sustainability in
Practice
At Sir John Lawes we pride ourselves on growing
a green consciousness in our students, so that as
a school we may participate as contributing
members of a global community.
• In an effort to reduce our carbon emissions we have
installed Smart Metering which enables us to track our
real-time energy use. We have also recently invested in
renewable energy by installing solar panels to the
Sports Hall, Library and Art block roofs as we move
towards becoming a more sustainable school. Other
initiatives have included an 8automatic9 switch off for
our computers at the end of the school day.
• The school travel plan encourages students to travel
to school by foot and by bicycle, and for staff to do the
same. Dedicated bike storage and showers are made
available to members of staff and breakfast is available
in order to make alternative methods of getting to work
more practical.
• Water and energy-saving devices are fitted across
the school and we employ grounds staff who do not
water plants from hose pipes.
• We have invested in more energy efficient lighting and
double glazing in order to reduce our total energy use.
• We have worked hard to reduce our use of paper
over the last few years through things such as
increasing our use of email for communication and
issuing students and staff with a specific amount of
printer credits.
• We have invested in mugs made from recycled
plastic in an effort to cut down on the amount of waste
generated from plastic and polystyrene cups. This
initiative was led by the Eco-Schools Group. The Cut
the Cups campaign encouraged students to bring in
their own water bottles. This has meant a dramatic
drop in the number of plastic cups used in school.
• We have a rolling programme of insulating single skin
walls to reduce heat loss, thus helping to reduce our
use of fossil fuels.
• Eco-Schools have introduced an anti-idling campaign
with signs around the outside of the school reminding
parents to switch off their engines when picking up
students.
• Students are deeply concerned about the clothing
industry9s toxic footprint and its impact, particularly on
the poorest communities around the globe. The
Climate Action Group have launched SJL9s Uniform
Swap Shop which aims to significantly reduce our
uniform forming part of the many thousands of tonnes
of clothing going into landfill every year. Through
various activities, SJL9s (student-led) Climate Action
Group work to raise awareness of the impact of
climate change, both within school and across the
wider community. Such practical actions are
empowering and help to build resilience as we strive
towards a net-zero world.