VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM
How one secondary school is empowering students to lead sustainability initiatives
that their opinions matter and that they can make a meaningful contribution to school life. Sustainability has become a particularly strong area for student leadership, with students helping to shape initiatives that benefit both the school and the wider community.
Why is sustainability such an important focus for the school?
N
icola Shingleton, Headteacher at Hadleigh High School, tells us more.
Tell us about Hadleigh High School. Hadleigh High School is a thriving secondary school in Suffolk and part of Penrose Learning Trust. We are passionate about providing students with opportunities both inside and outside the classroom that help them develop confidence, leadership skills and a strong sense of responsibility towards their community. Student voice plays an important role in our school culture. We want students to feel
Sustainability is something that many of our students feel genuinely passionate about. They are increasingly aware of environmental challenges and are keen to explore how they can make a positive difference. As a school, we want to harness that enthusiasm and provide opportunities for students to turn ideas into action. Sustainability is not just about reducing our environmental impact. It is also about helping students develop the skills, confidence and sense of responsibility needed to become active citizens.
We have found that when students are given ownership of environmental initiatives, they become much more engaged and invested in the outcomes.
Can you tell us about the Active Travel Ambassadors programme and how the school became involved?
We joined the Active Travel Ambassadors programme in 2024 and it has been a fantastic
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opportunity for our students. Through a series of workshops, students explored ways to encourage more sustainable travel habits within our school community.
What made the programme particularly effective was that the ideas came directly from the students. They identified areas they wanted to focus on, discussed possible solutions and developed their own campaign proposals.
As staff, our role was very much to facilitate the process rather than lead it. We provided support and guidance, but the creativity and ideas came from the students themselves.
How are students involved in shaping sustainability initiatives at Hadleigh High School?
One of the most important things we have learned is that students are far more engaged when they feel genuine ownership over a project.
Rather than being told what they are going to do, students are encouraged to identify challenges, develop ideas and think through how those ideas can be delivered successfully. They discuss different approaches, challenge each other’s thinking and consider how they can overcome potential barriers. Giving students that level of responsibility has helped create a real sense of pride and investment in the projects they develop. It has
June 2026
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