COP∞

COP∞: Uniting the world to tackle climate change.

First things first – what does ‘COP∞’ even mean?! Well, ‘COP’ stands for ‘conference of parties’ – a meeting that involves lots of different people working towards the same goal (∞ = Infinity).

COP27 is the 27th meeting of members of the ‘United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change‘ (UNFCCC).

It began in 1994, when many world leaders became part of the UNFCCC and agreed that their countries would help to combat global warming. Since then, a COP has been held every year so that decision-makers can get together and discuss what to do next.

So COP∞ is a huge, important meeting all about taking action against climate change.

What are Guilden Sutton C of E Primary School doing to get involved?

• We have been hearing all about COP∞ in our assemblies where we have learnt the palm oil song: https://www.chesterzoo.org/schools/resources/palm-oil-conga-singalong-video/

We are proud to be living in a place that is determined to be the first sustainable palm oil city in the country.

• Staff and children are striving to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever they can.

The Eco-champions (who meet every Tuesday after school until 4.20pm) are at the forefront of this. See the photos below for some of their projects . . .

Reusing the boxes our paper is delivered in, to create paper recycling points within each classroom.

Creating posters, as reminders in key areas, to reduce the amount of resources used, such as these on our paper towel dispensers.

Writing to local councillors and MPs requesting funding for schools to have their rubbish recycled.

Future sessions will be looking at ways to encourage no waste at lunchtime, both in our school dinners and our packed lunches, as well as seeking funding for a school pond which will not only encourage new species of plants and animals to our school grounds but also provide a great educational resource for all our classes. 

During the warmer months we run Nature Detectives after school on Fridays for KS1 children.  This club is held outdoors and explores the nature that is all around us, involving the children in their local environment and encouraging them to enjoy, protect and provide for it.

Last year we created a bug hotel, a log pile, planted wildflowers for the bees and butterflies, went birdwatching and bug hunting as well as making miniature gardens on a plate.

The Nature Detectives also surveyed the school grounds for a suitable place to put our bird boxes with cameras.  Thanks to Mr Davis for giving up his time to install them.

The Nature Detectives were amazed to discover the range of wildlife on our school grounds as shown by the night vision camera that they set up over May half term.

The Eco-Champions spoke to our cooks to find out how we can make our school food more sustainable and eco-friendly. There are positive things happening already, such as using local produce where possible, but we concluded that the big suppliers would need to take the lead as schools are restricted in their choices.

The Eco-Champions have provided our midday assistants with lanyards sporting captions to encourage everyone to finish the food on their plates.

The Big Plastic Count

For a week during May, the school took part in Greenpeace’s UK wide survey of plastic use in our homes and schools. The Eco-Champions ran a school assembly to explain how it would work. The results were quite an eye-opener as to just how much plastic is used over such a short period of time. The Eco-Champions will be working to reduce plastic waste at our school and giving tips to reduce plastic usage in our homes

The Nature Detectives also surveyed the school grounds for a suitable place to put our bird boxes with cameras. Thanks to Mr Davis for giving up his time to install them.

On Sunday 25^th September, some of the Eco Champions came down to the ‘Love your green space’ community day at Hooks Wood to offer some activities. Everyone had great fun seeing how far they could fire an ‘egg’ using a human sized catapult (well done to Abby who sent it 30m!)  and many had a go at the nature quiz.  

The following week, our KS2 classes visited Hooks Wood for some wild poetry writing to celebrate National Poetry day and this year's theme of 'the environment'. Children were inspired by the nature around them to think of questions and answer them in an imaginative way. You can read of some of the results in our photographs, we think they’re brilliant!  Thank you to all the parents who accompanied us, making this outing possible.