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First Hills Road cohort completes nation...

First Hills Road cohort completes national Environmental Leaders Programme

The first ever cohort of Hills Road students last week received their certificates celebrating completion of the Environmental Leaders Programme, developed by WWF and RSPB.

Published on 23/09/2025

Thirteen Hills Road students have successfully completed the Environmental Leaders Programme, developed by the WWF, RSPB and the Leadership Skills Foundation, and have now received their certificates recognising their achievements.

The students represent the second ever cohort to complete the programme nationally, and were the first group from Hills Road to take part - hopefully the first of many!

[Image above] Students (left-right) Yingfei Luo, Alex Davis, Ethan Flynn, Fiona Price, Maitri Patel, Freya Rogers and Maryam Ali were among the participants. Shown here receiving their certificates with Chris Graham (third from left).

Described as "designed to develop the essential leadership and project management skills needed to make a positive change for the natural world" (as per WWF), the programme involves around 50 hours of learning, with students researching, planning, leading and evaluating their own projects.

In doing so, the students built project management and leadership skills while making a positive contribution to the environment. Over the course of the academic year, students developed and led sustainability projects both on campus and in their local communities.

Reflecting on the experience, participant Maitri Patel explained:

“The Programme encouraged me to take initiative and carry out a project that enhances biodiversity in my school and build on my problem-solving skills in a fun, interactive way."
Maitri Patel

A thriving dogwood plant enjoyed by a ladybird. Student Aaron Forrester led a planting scheme that saw 50 dogwood plants introduced to create bushy habitats.

The student-led projects were both practical and imaginative as well as varied in their approach, ranging from planting schemes to visiting a local Brownies group.

On campus, Arran Forrester led a planting scheme that saw 50 dogwood plants introduced to create bushy habitats on campus. These will grow over time to support biodiversity, alongside bulbs and wildflowers planted by students in other areas of the college grounds. [Image: one of the recently planted dogwood plants on campus, enjoyed by a ladybird.]

Other students reached out to the wider community: for example, Ethan Flynn developed a school-based project to raise awareness of biodiversity, while Maryam Ali ran a sustainability workshop with her former primary school, teaching younger children about reducing waste and protecting the natural world. “I developed key transferrable skills for my future whilst having fun," she said.

“The Environmental Leaders’ Programme has been an amazing opportunity for me to spread awareness around desperate issues for biodiversity, and has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience.”
Ethan Flynn

Completion of the Programme is equivalent to eight UCAS points, underpinned by a Level 3 Qualification in Leading a Project for Positive Change. Having successfully completed the qualification over the last academic year, the students last week received their certificates.

Chris Graham, Head of Sustainability and Teacher of Biology at Hills Road, praised the group's efforts:

“We’re incredibly proud of our first Hills Road cohort to complete the Environmental Leaders Programme. Their projects have made a visible difference to our college site and to the wider community, while also equipping them with leadership skills that will last well beyond their time here.”
Chris Graham, Head of Sustainability

With its first cohort now certified, Hills Road is set to run the Environmental Leaders Programme again this academic year, giving a new group of Year 12s the chance to become changemakers in sustainability.

Some of the participants share their thoughts...

“It was an amazing experience which allowed me to contribute to my local community and develop essential leadership skills for later in life.”
Alex Davis

"It’s an empowering opportunity to make a difference in your own community, making a positive change to the local environment as well as to people’s mindsets towards their own ability to make a change.”
Freya Rogers

“A great opportunity to have hands-on experience in making change within the community.”
Eden

“An extraordinary experience, I enjoyed making a difference, no matter how big or small.”
Yingfei Luo

“The programme was really gratifying and a great confidence builder.”
Fiona

“The Environmental Leaders Programme was an excellent and very educational experience; it encouraged me to take initiative and carry out a project that enhances biodiversity in my school and build on my problem-solving skills in a fun, interactive way.”
Maitri Patel