Year of the Environment
In a world of “Drill, Baby, Drill”, criticism of the ambition of UK Net Zero, and climate denial, we prefer to educate our students with the emphases articulated by Bob Brown, (1944- ), Australian Doctor, Politician & Environmentalist who said: “The future will be green or not at all.”
In September 2025, Matt Allman - then our Headteacher - launched a school ‘Year of the Environment’ project for environmental education. This would be building on the coverage the themes already had across our school curriculum – so that our students obtain all the facts and understand the debates and counter-arguments surrounding environmental change.
Our Focus Week programme saw a wide coverage of environmental themes through assemblies, tutor time activities and special events and projects:
* W/B 22 September – World Clean-Up Day
* W/B 29 September – Second-Hand September
* W/B 13 October – World Food Day
* W/B 3 November – The Environmental Impact of War
* W/B 17 November – Road Safety Week (Electric / Diesel / Petrol)
* W/B 1 December – Recycling at Christmas Week
* W/B 12 January – World Heroines – Greta Thunberg (Wider Env Heroes)
* W/B 9 February – Go Green Week
* W/B 2 March – The Big Plastic Countdown
* W/B 16 March – World Water Day
* W/B 13 April – Fashion Revolution Week
* W/B 4 May – British Hero – David Attenborough
* W/B 11 May – Sun Awareness Week
* W/B 18 May – Endangered Species Week
* W/B 1 June – Clean Air Day
* W/B 8 June – World Ocean Day
* W/B 15 June – Refugee Week
* W/B 29 June – World Insect Day
* W/B 6 July – Reviewing the Year of the Environment
This project also tied into the government’s commitment for all schools should have a Sustainability & Climate Action Plan by September 2025.
Our Climate Action Plan can be found here.
All students signed up to a commitment to learn about the changing environment around them and to understand the difference they can make with their life choices. The final decision on action or inaction would rest with them, but we believe education is the best means to activate change.
This project also built on the extensive work the school has actioned in recent years to reduce our environmental impact, including solar panels, new and insulated roofing, motion sensor lighting, wooden canteen cutlery, extended recycling systems, and - in Summer 2025 - a new boiler and heating system designed to substantially reduce energy use and costs.
We're incredibly proud that The Friary School was ultimately awarded the prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag Award with Distinction as our ‘Year of the Environment’ drew towards a close.