Climate Champions

   
We are proud to have led the drive for greener, energy efficient running of schools.  Over time we have dramatically reduced our energy consumption and have developed and implemented plans to power the College on renewable energy.  We are immensely proud to have won National and International awards for our pioneering work in this area, such as the SSAT Sustainability Award, the Ashden Award, and the Zayed Sustainability Prize.  We continue to look at ways to conserve energy and generate by renewable means, save water, recycle fully, live healthily and use local produce for school meals.​

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Zayed Sustainability Prize Winners​
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In 2013 Okehampton College won the Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Global High Schools category, Europe.  This recognised the College as the 'greenest school in Europe'.  (The prize was launched at the 2008 World Future Energy Summit, by H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and rewards 'innovators and visionaries whose achievements have furthered the global proliferation of innovative, impactful and inspirational sustainability solutions.')

Mr Chapman (then our Headteacher), Bryony Franco (then a member of our 6th form), and Bryony's father, attended a ceremony in Abu Dhabi where the award was presented.  Whilst in the UAE Mr Chapman and Bryony attended events linked to The World Energy and Water Summit as well as visiting local schools and institutions to give presentations about Okehampton College’s pioneering environmental work.

​The $100,000 won by the College was used to further our environmental work and install two modest wind turbines (18 metres tall), and a wood pellet biomass heating system.

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Ashden Sustainable Schools Award Winners​
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In 2010 Okehampton College won the prestigious Ashden Sustainable Schools Award, in recognition of the energy efficient measures we have implemented to reduce the school's carbon emissions (we aim for carbon neutrality).  ​We remain very proud of this award, which recognised the College as a 'Climate Champion', and we continue to promote sustainable low-carbon energy use through our work in school, and through our membership of the 'Let's Go Zero 2030' campaign.

​The article 'Living and learning sustainable energy' commemorated our Ashden Award.

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Media Reports​
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Our environmental work has gained much coverage in local and national media, a selection of which is collated here:
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