The Flagpole

I am delighted to be able to share our newly published Environmental Sustainability Plan with you. A huge amount of work has been done by so many staff and pupils to put this plan together and I hope it gives you a really good insight into what we are doing and what we are aiming to achieve in the future.

You will be aware that the UK government has set ambitious plans to achieve Net Zero. In parallel, the Princethorpe Foundation is taking its own steps on the journey to sustainability. Our ambition is to become carbon neutral, whilst making sure that our environment is safe, fit for-purpose and healthy. Our aim is to remove as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as we emit. Firstly, by reducing our emissions as much as possible and secondly, by offsetting what we do emit.

As part of our journey towards net zero, we have measured the Foundation’s carbon footprint and we will further refine these metrics to measure our progress.

We feel optimistic about joining the fight to build a better future for us all and for the planet, and we are determined to engage and play an active part in the sustainability solution. As part of this we have a central role in educating all our stakeholders about the importance of environmental sustainability. We want our school communities to clearly understand the current global issues and embrace the solutions.

By mobilising our pupils with the requisite knowledge, skills and the desire to effect positive change, we know that the next generation will become the creative problem-solvers of the future.

You will see from the plan that we are working hard to embed environmental sustainability into our thinking and actions in nine key areas and it is particularly heartening to see the high levels of engagement from our pupils. This week the Environmental Sustainability Board approved our plans and we are delighted to share them with you here. We would welcome feedback on the plan from all stakeholders via our new netzero@princethorpe.co.uk email address.

Finally I would like pay tribute and thank our Foundation Assistant Head, Alex Darkes, who has led the project for the Foundation and chaired our Environmental Sustainability Board so capably. As Alex retires at the end of April I am delighted to take over this role and spearhead our future work in the area

E D Hester