Read about how our community is working to address the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss and how we are embedding sustainability into our strategic direction.
Flight Free Schools is an initiative encouraging education settings to reduce air travel and consider more sustainable alternatives.
Working in collaboration with the English, Media and Film department and Chris Graham, Head of Sustainability at Hills Road, the students were responsible for planning, filming, and conducting interviews across the College.
Our students are encouraged to explore, establish or expand environmental initiatives in a variety of ways during their time at the College:
Student Council: Our Student Council play a key role in leading environmental initiatives, spearheaded by the Environmental Officer.
Sustainability reps: In the 2024-25 academic year, the Student Council Environment Officer, in collaboration with the Charities Officer, are leading a group of sustainability reps in a working group.
Initiatives in the current academic year include a termly newsletter on biodiversity and sustainability efforts in the College. The sustainability working group are also fundraising for a nature reserve in the local area and mapping the site as part of the National Education Nature Park.
There are over 100 clubs and societies at Hills Road, for students to spark their imagination and explore interests. Several of these offer opportunities to explore biodiversity and the climate and to get involved. Recent activities include…
Biology Society: A termly newsletter written by students in the College (for example, themed on ‘Ecology, Environment, Conservation’ in September 2024)
Bird Society: Students in Bird Society are collaborating with the charity Action for Swifts, to design and install swift boxes on College site.
Environment Society: Recently visited the Houses of Parliament with Teach The Future to discuss decarbonising schools with MPs!
We aim to make a tangible difference by role-modelling and educating for the action needed locally, nationally, and globally to address the climate and biodiversity crises.
The College's 2024-28 strategy highlights four core areas, which are People, Place, Planet, and Progress. We are prioritising sustainability through our work the 'Planet' priority area. This reflects our commitment to decarbonising, embedding sustainability in College life, and empowering students to become responsible and active citizens.
Dr Chris Graham is our Sustainability Lead and Teacher of Biology at Hills Road Sixth Form College, having been a teacher for nearly 20 years.
Through Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS), he works to support and promote the inclusion of plant-based contexts throughout biology teaching.
Eco-focused enrichment activities and student-led initiatives like HR4.5 are key to fostering sustainability within our community. Read about some of these below!
We are members of the EAUC, which is the UK’s leading sustainability champion for universities and colleges, offering resources, guidance, and tools for embedding sustainability practices.
At Hills Road, our policies reflect our commitment to sustainable practices. You can read the Environmental Policy (under review as of November 2024) and Procurement Policy on our Policies and Procedures webpage.
