A Buckinghamshire school has become an international ambassador in fight against climate change thanks to the efforts of its pupils.
Pipers Corner School, an independent school for girls in High Wycombe, became the first school in the country to win both The Green Apple Award and Green World Ambassador Award for actions to promote environmental best practice and sustainability.
In the face of the climate crisis, the school turned to Phil Williams, a former BBC Education TV presenter and with 25 years of experience in sustainability education.
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In 2019, the students created an extracurricular club HOPE (Helping Others Protect the Environment) to channel the current and future pupils’ interest from pre-pre level to sixth form for a more sustainable future.
Former BBC educator Phil Williams said: "In my 25 year career, I have never seen a school embrace environmental work so passionately.
“The students have been empowered by an obvious love and understanding for sustainability.
“They have worked extremely hard to create a positive change, supported by staff and through the whole school approach they truly deserved to win these awards and I couldn't be more thrilled for them."
The pupils will receive the Green Apple Award at an award ceremony at the Houses of Parliament in November after competing with thousands of other applications from businesses, schools and organisations around the world.
Previous Green Apple winners include Rolls Royce, DPD and The Royal Mint.
Year 13 student and chair of HOPE, Liv L said: "At first I didn't quite believe it, especially when I found out about the past winners.
“I found it so impressive for our School to win not only one but two awards.”
The HOPE club created a regular audit of the schools’ environmental impact, including electricity usage, reduction of paper use and recyclin.
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Also, two outdoor classrooms were erected with energy monitored using wind turbines, a forest classroom and forest school were established and sustainability in different subjects was explored.
The club also operates an environmental outreach programme which involves local schools and resident groups.
Pipers Corner School is the only school in the UK to have a live educational link to the Amazon Rainforest, with direct contact to an Amazonian Indigenous person from the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Headmistress Helen Ness-Gifford said: "I am thrilled that the students' commitment to sustainability has been rewarded in such a significant way.
“I am proud of the work they are doing, as protecting our planet is at the heart of a Pipers education.”
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