Mrs Forster, Mr Lee and Mrs Arnott presented to parents and governors on how Longridge is integrating sustainability into the School and its future.

Children driving a more sustainable future

LONGRIDGE parents came together this week to meet current and new governors and learn more about the future and sustainability at the School.

As part of the School’s engagement programme, the event on Monday night focused on the School’s ‘Sustainability Week’ Headmaster Jonathan Lee welcomed all to the event and Deputy Head Jenell Arnott and Head of Sixth Form Kate Forster presented on the school’s sustainability focus, and how that was translating into daily classes with pupils.

They explained the sustainability ethos at Longridge, which sets the School apart, as it uses its weekly Beach and Forest School approaches to intertwine an theoretical understanding of the planet with a very hands-on education in the outdoors, both locally and in residential trips across the UK and globally. They also revealed how Longridge pupils of all ages were grasping the ideas and are helping to drive new models of sustainability inside and outside the classroom.

This week, the School is welcoming a wide range of expert speakers sharing their insights with the pupils on everything from planting trees to store carbon to sustainable farming and fishing to protect our land and coastline, and from the value of second-hand clothes to the journey of a plastic bottle.

Parents are key part of school community

Acting Chair of Governors Isabel Cheer said: “This has been a great opportunity, both for the parents that have come along and the staff and governors who have had the chance to meet and chat in a more informal setting that the school day.

“I think this event is really important because it makes people realise that we’re all part of this school community. It’s not a School where the parents are over here and the staff over there, the governors somewhere else, and that parent engagement ensures that we can all take on board what we hear, really listen to parents about what they feel is important, and they, in turn, can hear directly from staff on how they are doing the best for their children, and contribute thoughts to that.

“Obviously, we’re going through the change of headteacher and that process is ongoing. This event was organised before that was planned as part of our annual engagement programme, but it is good to have parents involved and close to the school when we are looking at a major change like that. There’s always a little bit of a ease and nervousness and, hopefully, it the parents who came along tonight and chatted with Jonathan and ourselves, feel reassured that School life is not changing.”

The Longridge Towers School Governors are: Isabel Cheer, David Armstrong, Dr Jacqui Watson, Stuart Bankier, Penny Derries, Ryan Reay, Esmond Ronay, Mark Ringland and another governor soon to be appointed.

Learn more about them here.