Here at Redland High we are very conscious of our impact on the environment.

One of the key issues in our School Development Plan is to promote Green issues in School and to have a commitment to sustainability.

We are currently working towards Green Flag status having already been awarded the Silver Eco Schools Status.

• Pupils monitor electricity and water use, carrying out both formal and informal surveys.
• Water consumption has been reduced by lowering the amount of water that goes into the cisterns and we have increased awareness of turning off taps after use by putting up signs next to all taps.
• We have been working with the ICT department to reduce the amount of power used by computers. Computers are now shut down earlier at the end of the school day and every computer has an on-screen reminder to shut down when not in use.
• We have increased the amount we recycle during the past 2 years. In addition to paper, cans, glass etc:

          - All food and cardboard is now recycled.

          - We have recycled 5.8 tonnes of paper in the last year. We are endeavouring to reduce this by 
            encouraging re-use of paper; all classrooms have scrap paper trays.

          - Every classroom and office has a recycling box.

• We are working towards increasing biodiversity on the School site:

          - Pupils have made a bee hive.

          - Pupils have made bird feeders for the winter.

          - We will be carrying out a biodiversity survey in the Summer Term.

In addition:

• A Carbon Trust Assessment of the School was undertaken three years ago and was very favourable.
• The Geography syllabus throughout the School studies the effects of climate change.
• The Go4Set Science/Engineering Year 9 group has looked at ways of reducing the energy used in lighting the School. They presented their award winning report to the Governors in June and some of their initiatives have already been introduced.
• The girls recently donated 35 mobile phones to Bristol Zoo to raise money for endangered Mountain Gorillas.
• Redland High's ecology and sustainability club ‘Earth Matters' was set up by Biology teacher Caroline Wedgwood. ‘Earth Matters' is in contact with other schools who participate in the Eco Schools programme and also with schools who are hoping to join the programme. The Club members have recently been on a visit to the award winning restaurant ‘Bordeaux Quay' to look at how a sustainable business is run.
• We have recently started a Nature Club in the Senior School, to encourage girls to take an active interest in the immediate environment of the School.
• Since its inception two years ago, Redland High has supported the Girls' Schools Association initiative ‘Girls Go Green' week, encouraging car sharing or walking or cycling to School or work. This year we also increased cross-curricular links; for example the Religious Studies department looked at Hinduism and the environment. The English department wrote poems, Mathematics looked at energy use in the home, Latin worked out the carbon footprint of a Roman and Miss Wedgwood, Biology, has given out resources to look at articles about recycling and compost. The Modern Languages department have chosen a Sixth Form Syllabus where Green issues form one quarter of the discussion topics.
• In June a group of girls from Redland High's Year 10 attended an event organised by Newcastle University in which the main theme of the day was ‘combating climate change'. The girls participated in various small group activities exploring suggestions for dealing with large amounts of carbon dioxide, such as ‘Carbon capture' and ‘Seeding algae in the oceans with iron'. A session on careers in Marine Science followed which involved talks by a sea captain, a harbour master and a pilot. A marine engineer surveyor illustrated his career with Lloyd's Register where he was responsible for looking at the designs of ships and their safety. A lecturer in Marine Science then described the types of courses available at universities. Finally, two PhD students outlined their pathways through the university to their current positions. The afternoon session was introduced by a member of the British Antarctic Survey Team who described their research methods and findings. This was then followed by a debate on ‘Mitigating Climate Change', when each school was assigned a particular strategy and had to devise an argument for its implementation. The girls of Redland High were the Carbon Capture Team, proposing capturing carbon dioxide and storing it underground in various facilities. The girls produced a well argued case and impressed the audience with their well thought-out and clearly presented ideas.
• One of our Houses, Rowan House, is currently preparing their Charity Day on a ‘Save the Bees' theme.
• Our school magazine and newsletter is printed on FSC endorsed paper (from well managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood or fibre). Where possible we communicate as much as we can by email to reduce paper wastage.