At Westbourne House School, we want to inspire future generations to be innovators and problem solvers. This is particularly pertinent with the ever-growing threat of climate change, so education, awareness and leading by example are of utmost importance. That is why our school is constantly striving to do more. To educate. To inspire. To make a difference, now and in years to come.
Our pupil-led environmental committee carries out a tremendous amount of work across the academic year. It is comprised of 22 reps from Reception all the way up to Year 8. These children take part in half-termly meetings and have been a driving force in our tree planting initiatives, litter picks and the effort to reduce single use plastics within our school.
Our ethos for this committee is centred around pupil involvement – we want our children to be engaging practically with their grounds and their environment, always considering the impact that their actions will have on the world around them. We want our pupils to remain active members of the community in changing the world and promoting a better, more sustainable future long after they leave Westbourne House.
We are so proud to be putting our solar panels to good use. These were installed in January 2025 with the aim of reducing our energy consumption by up to 75%. The panels were supplied by Your Eco, a certified B Corps which is also used by the UK Ministry of Defence. This is a project that we hope to expand in the future.
Our school has been recognised as a wildlife corridor, which makes it a protected green space for local wildlife. Thanks to a partnership with Chichester District Council and Defra, we have been able to take part in several tree planting initiatives to keep our school as green as possible.
We are now the home to three black poplars (of which there are only 38 mature specimens left in the UK).. These have all been planted by our Environmental Committee, who have worked tirelessly rain or shine to take care of the new saplings.
Our most recent planting introduced 22 new fruit trees to our school grounds. They are coming along nicely and we hope that they will do a fantastic job of attracting pollinators.
All of our pupils from the Nursery up to Year 8 were involved in designing or building this exciting new addition to our school, and we know that each and every one of them will also enjoy reaping the rewards in the future. Our aims were clear: encourage the children to take action and put work towards creating change in their own community. Show them how to be innovative - not every building has to be made from bricks and concrete. Urge them to interact with the nature and the world around them; we must take care of our planet and live responsibly.
We are lucky to have expertise within our staff. Mr Jones, Art Teacher, has a background in architecture, an interest in structural engineering and loves artist Andy Goldsworthy for his artwork connecting environmental issues and art. He’s got a keen interest in conservation and has built many willow structures.
One of our chosen school charities is Surfers Against Sewage. We are one of 3,446 schools signed up to their 'plastic free school' initiative, which involves completing five tasks to receive our 'plastic free school' plaque. One of these steps is carrying out 'trash mob' litter picks, which our Environmental Committee organise and carry out.
We have celebrated two recipients of our Environmental Cup, which was donated by the Pennant family, whose youngest daughter had a profound love for wildlife and birds.
“This award is presented to a pupil of any age who proactively applies themselves to environmental causes and does so with a passion. They are able to lead our world to a greener place and inspire others to follow," said Mr Brown, Head of Environmental Committee.
Congratulations to:
2023 - Mary B
2024 - Molly A
