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Holme Grange School
As a Sustainability and Climate Change Centre for Excellence, Holme Grange School aims to produce global citizens and informed consumers. Students are empowered to lead the changes needed to create a resilient and inclusive community. We have the first certified carbon literacy teachers in the world and we are the first eduCCate Global Gold Standard school.
We don’t just pay lip service to sustainability; it’s embedded throughout the curriculum whether that be in our Nursery or in the senior years to give children the knowledge and understanding they need and want. “Eco-councils” across each section of the school (including staff and parents) meet weekly to work on smaller scale initiatives with the Sustainable Development Goals as their guide. Pupils work towards gaining Sustainability Badges in Prep School.
In November 2021 the whole school took part in “Mock COP”. 60 student delegates filled our hall in a UN style conference discussing progress since the Paris agreement and the work that still needs to be done. Other pupils completed a range of activities including clearing a fake oil spill, designing and building a flood-proof model house, planting crocus bulbs, creating non-for-profit businesses and discussing gender equality. Roving reporters and journalists captured the mood. We even had a conference artist who sketched the plenary session. In collaboration with Wokingham council and other schools in the borough, we want sustainability to be an essential part of every school’s syllabus and not an optional extra. Our ultimate aim is for the creation of a Sustainability GCSE. Our bespoke Climate Bravery course in Year 9 is blazing a trail towards that goal with the University of Oxford on board for a future research project. As a result, Holme Grange students will be the next generation of change makers.
www.holmegrange.org Contact: 0118 978 1566 | school@holmegrange.org
You don’t seem to hear very much about Quaker schools but then grandiose self-promotion isn’t very Quakerly.
A little research reveals some interesting facts.
The Obama family sent their daughters to a Quaker school in the US and Sixth Form leavers at UK Quaker schools achieve some of the best academic progress in the country (the measure that UK Government uses to assess schools), with two in the top 0.5% in England. Quaker schools in the UK are open to students of all faiths and none, with the emphasis being on the Quaker values rather than religion. Academic success has to be important in any school, but as Matthew Judd, Head at Leighton Park, identifies, there is more than one way of achieving this: “A student’s academic development cannot be understood in isolation but must be considered in conjunction with their emotional and physical wellbeing, confidence, maturity and happiness.” Toby Spence, Head at Sibford School, adds: “Quaker Schools offer a unique pathway... The distinct blend of values encompassing peace, equality, tolerance, social justice, simplicity and stewardship help to frame a community where the individual is known and valued, indeed celebrated for who they are rather than which box society might like to place them in.” Quaker schools seem to imbue gentle, civilised values - where students can develop and grow in a kind and supportive environment - with inspiration to encourage them to play an active role - or ‘Live Adventurously’ as Quakers would term it, all while achieving some of the best academic progress in the country. With Quaker schools not predisposed to shouting about themselves too much, one is left with the distinct feeling that these schools are something of a hidden gem.
Why not visit Leighton Park School and see for yourself how a Quaker education could benefit your child?
Leighton Park School
Shinfield Road, Reading, Berkshire RG2 7ED Tel 0118 987 9608 Email Admissions@leightonpark.com Website: www.leightonpark.com Facebook: @leightonparkschool Twitter: @LPSchool
