Patcham Junior School

WHAT WE AIM TO DO

Over the next few years, Patcham Juniors would like to:

• Create Community & Engagement - Many small activities with a big quick impact to empower children, and to show school and families real results in place, creating a strong community around the school
• Create Knowledge & Skills - Ensure children acquire sustainable tools for their future lives through school activities and a close connection with Nature
• Create Ideas & Projects - Allow children to become changemakers and create their own sustainable paths by themselves, while supported by school and wider community
• Create Space & Nurture - Support children connecting with the broader World, to share and nourish their passions, and celebrate their achievements

During this academic year, we will be:

• implementing a Kitchen Garden (using funding granted by Caterlink);
• increasing the number of Assemblies based on Sustainability and Climate Change;
• carrying on class and school projects to monitor Emissions & Energy Consumption of the school, Biodiversity & Wildlife on site, and Water impact; 
• increasing the number of activities to reduce Waste, use of single-use plastic, and increase Biodiversity;
• applying for national and local funds to revamp the Milenium Trail focusing on sensory needs, mental-health & wellbeing benefits and on education, and to run regular Forest School sessions/ outdoor lessons;
• hosting new events such as "Toy & Clothing Swap", and making the ones we already have in place more sustainable and as close to Zero Waste as possible;
• creating a School Community Board to enhance connections and a helpful community network, and to encourage reusing, recycling, upcycling and repurposing.

We would like to get a wider school community involved, so please get in touch with us and our Sustainability Leader - Mrs Morra - for ideas and support.

We are aiming to do all this on a £0 budget or relying on local and national funding, so every helping hand is valuable, regardless of how small it may be.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR

Community Green Board (10.12.25) - We have added a section in the School Display by the main gate with all information regarding our Climate Action Plan and Sustainability Projects. Please check information on what we need and how you can help us! There is also information about a new Community Exchange Corner (given the huge success of the Coat Exchange) - it's our way to encourage Circular Economy within the school community. Please contact us if there is anything you can donate/ exchange with others, or if you're looking for something that could be donated/ exchanged. 

Fig Tree (03.12.25) - We have been donated a Fig tree sapling by the Brighton Permaculture Trust, which comes from the BPT's Forest Garden in Hollingdean Park. Ms Moyes planted it on the bank alongside the upper playground between two Apple tree saplings (previously donated), where we are looking forward to see it thriving!

Coat Exchange Corner (ongoing) - together with our pre-loved uniforms, we are now offering a Coat Exchange Corner, where families can donate and take second-hand coats. We asked for donations of items in good conditions and with no missing parts (buttons, zips...) and to take items fairly, being mindful of other families in need. 

Year 6 Entrepreneur Day (26.09.25) - We asked pupils and families to reduce the amount of plastic (especially single-use one) & waste on their stalls, and to increase the amount of reusable items & home-made food. We encouraged old-school games and bets with items brought from home or sourced on the school premises, as well as the sale of healthy snacks opposed to sugary and ultra-processed store-bought ones.