Theale Green students join school trust summit on sustainability

Students lead the way at a multi-academy trust summit on sustainability.

Student council representatives from Theale Green School joined students from all six schools in the Activate Learning Education Trust at the Maison Française d’Oxford on Friday, May 9.

The event, attended by 45 students, focused on what sustainability meant, what skills students will need for the future and how their councils can lead change on issues like waste and travel to shape a more sustainable future in education.

Year 12 student Maddie, from Theale Green, said: “This experience has been great.

“Talking with new people and getting all their perspectives.

“Everyone I talked to is quite passionate about sustainability, and there’s always that one person who has something completely different to say. And that can change the direction the conversation goes in.”

ALET CEO Joanne Harper addressed the students, emphasising their vital role in driving environmental change.

She said: “This is what education is about: empowering students with purpose and vision. You are our future leaders. Your ideas are really important.”

She added the cross-school collaboration will contribute to ALET’s five-year strategy placing student leadership, sustainability and values-driven education at its core.

This event marks the first in a series of planned cross-school leadership gatherings within ALET.

Students have taken their ideas back to their individual school councils to begin implementing their action plans throughout the 2025-26 academic year.