Across The Corinium Education Trust we aim to help our pupils become responsible and caring citizens. We encourage them to take part in global stewardship and help them find a voice in current debates and in planning for the future.

Pupils in Year 6 at Chesterton Primary School responded to the call for questions for the Cotswolds’ parliamentary candidates at a general election debate on the climate change emergency. Their questions were very pertinent and reflected their concerns. They included ‘What are your top 5 tips for children to help slow down climate change?’ and ‘What are you currently doing in your everyday life to help reduce plastic?’

'The children held a lively mature classroom debate to establish their key questions and subsequently watched the filming of the event to discover how their concerns are being addressed by the parliamentary candidates. The children are beginning to discuss how we can reduce our own school environmental footprint.' Karen Venner, Chesterton School Headteacher

Climate change and, in particular, reducing plastic in our oceans, is a strong theme across The Corinium Education Trust. Pupils new to Year 7 at Cirencester Deer Park School had the opportunity to explore this further by participating in an enrichment weekend, ‘Plastic fantastic?’ in November. Pupils worked collaboratively to developing and propose sustainable solutions from the perspective of Island Nations in the Pacific. All activities at The Slimbridge Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust Centre and their diligent preparation culminated in an impressive Model United Nations debate which included drafting policy and negotiating amendments. (Read more...)

‘The pupils are a credit to the school for pushing on in adverse weather conditions. They didn’t give up and made the most of their time with me and the wider visit. It was lovely to see their enthusiasm and interest.’  Sue Belej, Learning Manager, Slimbridge.

‘Across two jam-packed days our pupils displayed incredible resilience and brilliance! The quality of the debate on Saturday evening was amongst the best I have heard from pupils.' Jonathan Ferne, Humanities Team Leader, Cirencester Deer Park School.

‘I have had a brilliant time this weekend. I have learnt a lot about what problems the world has and how we can stop them.’  Summer, Year 7, Cirencester Deer Park School.

Other interested pupils at Deer Park also found a voice and were able to contribute to raising awareness of Climate Change by singing along to a protest song - Earth Song - initially shared by the girls of Torquay Grammar School during Climate Action Week in September 2019 (Read more...) and, closer to Christmas, pupils subsequently took part in another protest song, premiered at the school’s annual Carol Service and this time shared globally, The Resolution Song #resolution2020. (Read more...)

Furthermore, pupils at Deer Park took part in The World’s Largest Lesson in September 2019. This focused on what action can C40 cities take to tackle climate change and to mitigate its impact. (Read more...). A small delegation of committed GCSE geographers, led by Rebecca Lillington, Associate Assistant Head, rose to the challenge of A level content lectures and workshops on a trip to the Museum of Natural History, Oxford in November 2019. Samantha in Year 11 commented ‘It was a really challenging experience as we discovered the impact of our own carbon footprint and it opened my eyes to a more sustainable way of living. I loved the workshops.’  (Read more...)