Widcombe Junior School in Bath has installed new air filters in every classroom thanks to a £5,000 fundraising campaign as just one of its environmentally friendly initiatives.
Community-minded Widcombe Junior School has embraced its proactive and passionate parent and carer partnership, supporting the school’s drive to protect its environment, which has culminated in a staggering £5,000 raised to buy and install air filters in each classroom.
As part of Energy Saving Week, this fundraiser forms part of a campaign to improve the overall air quality by significantly reducing traffic pollution, alongside allergen and asthma triggers. The campaign was strengthened by a ‘clean-air day’ in which parents and carers from Widcombe Juniors were encouraged to leave their cars at home when dropping off and collecting their children.
The junior school’s community also raised money to plant 60 hedges around its perimeter to act as a green shield and provide extra protection for its pupils and this has now been completed.
This encourages its pupils and community to think about the importance of climate change and enhances the school’s engaging curriculum.
These are just a few examples of the transformative steps the parent and carer group and community-minded school have taken in their pledge to promoting children’s good health and wellbeing.
Widcombe Junior School and Widcombe Infant School are part of the Palladian Academy Trust family. The parent and carer partnership aligns with the trust’s mantra of being a collaborative and values-driven organisation that recognises the important part each school plays within its local community, as well as across other Palladian schools, while developing its pupils’ skills and broadening their knowledge both inside and outside the classroom.
Katherine Everton, a member of the parent, carer, and teacher group, which led the air filter project, said, “Widcombe Junior School and Widcombe Infant School and its community care very much about their environment, and we all appreciate living in such beautiful surroundings.
“Every parent desires to protect their children and give them the very best start in life. The provision of air filters will undoubtedly help to improve children’s health, as well as recognising the importance of protecting the environment.
“As a parent and carer group, we are delighted that our £5,000 target was reached and the purchase of air filters enabled. This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support from our local businesses and groups, notably the Bear Flat Association and Julia Davey, who both spread news of the appeal on their social media as well as generous donations from fellow parents and members of the community.
“We would also like to thank those who have made this happen: Helen Knight, Verica Hodder, Anna Knollys, Katherine Everton, Kate Yarrington, Livia Turner, Rob Mitchell, Rachael Fisher, and many others who have worked so tirelessly on this project, supporting it from the outset and over the past few months.”
Headteacher Aaron Harley added, “We are honoured to be part of a passionate community who are very supportive of the school. It is an inspiring and united way to teach our children about the importance of the environment and how it can improve their health and well-being.
“We must mitigate the effects of climate change and, by working collaboratively and educating the leaders of tomorrow, we can ensure that our planet is protected for years to come.
“We are also fortunate to be part of Palladian Academy Trust and its family of schools. Together we have embarked on a journey to become the first trust in England to become a Thriving Trust Ambassador. Thrive is an educational approach to improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people which is something we are all passionate about.
“Building such strong relationships within our community, whether it is through fundraising or awareness campaigns, really helps the trust to support every aspect of its young people on an academic or more holistic level.”