Sustainability

Sustainability website statement:

 

 

Mission Statement:

Oakwood Park Grammar School cares about sustainability and is committed to being a secondary school that does something about it. Our aim is to inspire and engage our students, staff and parents, so we can work together to make positive changes to ensure OPGS has a sustainable mind set and comply with the government legislation to combat zero carbon net emissions by 2050. OPGS are aware of the current environmental and social impacts our students will face in their lifetime, we encourage our students and staff to be actively involved in creating a culture that prioritises sustainability. We are trying to make a visible impact around the school with various changes in the way we do things, with clubs, projects and action plans.

Motto: Think Green, Be Green, Live Green.

 

Updates:

In 2025 we were working on creating a new garden space, this has been called the “Wellbeing Garden”, located between the library and Science block. Maidstone’s wildlife has suffered with a huge amount of habitat loss in the last few decades and so we wanted to help do something positive. The garden was created on the OPGS Volunteering Day in 2025, with the help of a group of year 8 students and Mrs Alltimes, spending a day to create several raised beds, a large bug hotel, adding a shed and a water butt, as well as planting trees and plants. Since then, the garden has been continued to be improved and maintained by a range of KS3 students and staff. This was made possible by Maidstone’s B&Q store, who kindly donating trees and plants. They have been more than generous with donations over the year, for which we are extremely grateful.

In 2026 on our most recent Volunteering Day, another group of year 8 students and Mrs Alltimes continued to improve the Wellbeing Garden, again with the help of B&Q who again kindly donated more plants and a few trees to the school. The students also began digging out a new pond in order to relocate the current pond, which will unfortunately be lost when the science extension work starts.

Students have also been busy, building planters out of reclaimed scaffold boards and starting to grow a few fruit and vegetables too. We are currently growing tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries and blueberries. As well as maintaining an apple true Ms Beven planted many years ago. 

 

Sustainable action plan:

• Build bird boxes to go up around the school site.
• Planting and/or maintaining trees, shrubs, plants, bulbs, seeds etc.
• Taking part in Kent Wildlife trust projects to help OPGS achieve an award.
• Improving/promoting mixed recycling at OPGS.
• Develop networks and share effective practice with local education settings.
• Making links with sustainable projects in the wider community.
• Design posters, art, and sculpture to promote a range of sustainable ideas.
• Fund raising events, raising money for new projects and our chosen charity.
• Reduce waste and energy consumption.

 

Eco Ambassadors club: We run ‘Eco Ambassadors Club’ every Thursday lunch time, this aid’s learners in developing the skills and knowledge to help them to contribute to sustainability and climate change in their lives and future jobs.

 

Uniform: We have an active and involved PA who run pre-loved uniform sales throughout the academic year which can make replacing items which students have outgrown less expensive, as well as being more environmentally friendlier.

 

Travel: We are aware some of our students travel a long way to and from school, so walking or car sharing is not an option, however we do actively encourage students to use public transport, car share or walk if possible. 

 

Water bottles: We have several water fountains around the school grounds, and we encourage students to bring in their own reuseable water bottle, rather than buy a single use plastic bottled drink each day, which doesn’t truly decompose. Estimates say it takes 400 - 500 years to decompose in landfill or the ocean, however that just means it breaks down into smaller pieces, creating toxic microplastics, which then continue to circulate through ecosystems, and enter food chains. Stainless steel is a very good option, both environmentally and for personal health reasons.  Firstly, it significantly reduces single-use plastic waste, it saves you money, it’s a safe material and doesn’t leak harmful toxins into your water, like some single use plastic bottles do. If you do want to buy a reuseable plastic bottle, we recommend you look for a BPA free plastic bottle.

 

Sustainable lunch idea’s: Students that bring their own lunch into school, are encouraged to use reusable containers or beeswax wraps, instead of using cling film. Avoid individually wrapped food products, buy bigger products and cut a small amount off each day, wrap them up or bring in a container instead. Reduce the number of products that come in single use plastic packaging, particularly products with plastic straws/cutlery attached. Recycle your soft plastics like crisp packets etc., in supermarkets plastic recycling bins – look out for labels like this.

 

Careers: With the future our students face, it is vital we equipment them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed, by increasing resilience and adapting to the impacts of climate change. We have several opportunities through the academic year for students to learn more about Green careers with a future. Furthermore, OPGS hosts a Careers Fair once a year, as well as sending sixth form students to local careers fairs.

 

If you have any questions or suggestions about Sustainability, please feel free to contact the schools lead sustainability teacher – Mrs Alltimes through the school reception email.