Following feedback from students and staff, Hastings is making sustainability a key priority in the on-going development of the school. To launch this important commitment, and to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary, we are taking on the challenge to plant a forest with more than 1,000 trees by December 2021!
In partnership with Plántalo, this initiative aims to generate awareness of climate change in a practical and direct way, so we don’t just talk about the problem, but also become an active part of the solution, by creating a new ecosystem of native trees.
Growing a Hastings Forest
We are offering the whole school community the chance to sponsor a tree in the Hastings Forest!
Each sponsor will receive a certificate and all the names of those who sponsor trees (students, staff and family members) will be put on a special honours board in the school – so the founders of the Hastings Forest will be preserved for posterity!
Our Sustainability Commitment
Becoming a more sustainable school is now a key commitment for Hastings.
Evidence from all over the world shows that being a sustainable school raises standards and enhances young people’s well-being: sustainable schools engage young people in their learning, thereby improving motivation and behaviour, plus saving resources such as energy and water has a positive impact on the environment.
Becoming a more sustainable school has far reaching implications, from what we teach, to how we operate as a business, as well as our daily actions as individuals. So, to set us on the right path, we have set up a Sustainability Task Force including student representatives, established a network of student-led Eco Schools committees and created a three-year sustainability strategy. We will measure our progress on an annual basis across 7 key areas.
We know that we are just starting our sustainability journey, and there is a lot to do, but this a key commitment that we hope will enhance every aspect of the school, with plenty of opportunities for students to take the lead.