With a day-long 'Breathe Conference' dedicated to issues facing the planet

Putney High School GDST is joining with experts on the environment and sustainability at a day-long conference dedicated to issues facing the planet.

The Breathe Conference (Tuesday 8 October 2019) is the highlight of ‘Breathe Week’ (Monday 7 -11 October) and involves leading edge speakers and other local schools, to engage student voice in brainstorming the challenges of climate change and sustainability, and to develop greater understanding, empathy and pro-active solutions that could benefit both the local environment and the wider world. Sponsors of the event, HSBC will be donating a tree to every school involved on the day.
Launched in 2018, Putney’s Breathe programme reaches out into the local community, this year involving eight maintained schools who will join the campaign, taking part in a wide range of activities, workshops, talks and trips.

The event is part of a wider commitment, which even includes the use of biophilic classrooms to improve concentration and wellbeing.

Heidi Armstrong, Deputy Head Pastoral said: “Breathe has developed into far more than an environmental campaign. Today at Putney, learning about and fighting for a sustainable environment has become an integral part of our ethos that has flourished within our community and beyond with pupils having a voice and very much taking the lead.”

Over the week the pupils will also be involved in a Gourmet Bug Tasting experience reminiscent of “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here”. They will be tasting Mealworms, and raisin insect biscuits, learning about sustainable and planet friendly dietary alternatives to meat production.

There will be an Eco-Inventor competition, with a focus on entrepreneurship, Putney will be getting creative to design an on-street electric vehicle charge point that could end up being used on our streets in the future. The Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles’ has launched an Eco-innovators Competition – we will be designing what we hope will be innovative, beautiful and winning entries.

Brainstorming business solutions to plastic problems – our eco-committee will lead the school in workshopping ways to combat the plastic crisis. The winning groups will have the opportunity to present their ideas to a major high street name and potentially get the investment to bring their idea to life.

Pupils will be fighting the issue of litter with 'Paws against Pollution' combining a dog and litter picking walk and for those who prefer a faster pace ther ewill be a 5km litter picking run.

Last September, the school launched their 'Breathe' campaign with the help of MP Justine Greening, 'Breathe' aims to both educate students and have a direct, measurable impact on everything from pollution levels to a reduction in waste and recycling within the school.

October 3, 2019