Cheney School wins Sustainable Secondary School of The Year

We're thrilled to announce that Cheney School is the 'Sustainable Secondary School of the Year,' and year 11 student Laurie wins the 'Youth Climate Action Champion Award' at the inaugural Oxford Climate Awards 2024. 

The Oxford City Council and Oxford Mail Awards, aim to honour exemplary efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect natural ecosystems and promote sustainable practises. At an elegant black-tie ceremony at Oxford Town Hall twelve awards were given out across various categories on Thursday night, to celebrate the nominees exceptional contributions to sustainability and climate action.

Laurie Barber in Year 11 was the first winner of the night with the ‘Youth Climate Action Champion’ Award and was delighted to be recognised for his efforts as an inspirational leader at the school’s year 7 to 11 Eco Club as well as taking action to improve the environment in and out of school.

Laurie’s prize for winning the Award is a place on the Saïd Business School’s Future Climate Innovators Summer School Residential in 2025.

Headteacher Rob Pavey is thrilled that Cheney is awarded ‘Sustainable Secondary School of The Year’ and very proud of Laurie’s achievement as an active citizen within the student body:

“We recognise the importance of sustainability, and our students are helping the school achieve increased biodiversity, greater awareness, and reduced consumption on our path towards net zero. As a school, we have already reduced our carbon footprint from energy use by half in the last 8 years, and we are about to have a full carbon footprint calculation, including supply chains and transport. The award gives our sustainability committee a boost as we continue to reduce our impact on the planet.”

Four judges shortlisted 3 nominees in each category from over 100 applications, and the winners were chosen by the sponsor of the category.

History teacher and new Sustainability Coordinator, Mr Vasy De La Cruz and Deputy Head of English, Miss Mortimer picked up Cheney School’s ‘Sustainable Secondary School of The Year’ Award at the ceremony, and reported how the Award sponsor, First Light Fusion was ‘struck by the way we were (at Cheney) working with the whole school community, bringing in different groups in a myriad of ways.’ Mr Vasy De La Cruz said of the Awards:

"This is a great moment to recognise what we’ve achieved and gives us lots of confidence that we’re on the right track and that the upcoming projects are headed in the right direction. We’re excited to put our plans into action.

We are thankful to all our community who have played a part in this and continue to do so; this is a collective effort - a fully sustainable future is the responsibility of us all."

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Cheney School Finalist in Oxford Climate Awards

Oxford Climate Awards Finalists 2024