King’s Academy Ringmer has been focused on making sustainability an integral part of our school and learning since 2002.  

We are an Eco-School, and we were awarded our first Eco-School award in 2002, which we have now held for over 22 years and are the oldest secondary school holder in the UK.  We are also recognised as one of the top Eco-Schools countrywide. 

With the drive and passion of Steve Green, ex Principal and first Eco Coordinator, we installed a wind turbine, solar panels, a biomass boiler, an electric car charging point, low-energy lighting and won many awards throughout this time; including the Department of Education Sustainability Award 2022.

The then Principal Mrs Williams and Environmental Project Manager, Mrs Teague, were thrilled when they won the award presented by Sponsor EQUANS and comedian Ed Byrne.  Mrs Williams said “We faced tough competition, we got to know the other finalists while we were at the conference and they were truly inspirational - I am so proud of our students and their achievements because they are the reason we won the award”. 

We used the prize money from the award, together with grant funding from the N + P Group, to install a fantastic living green wall of plants, inside the Steve Green building in the canteen area.  The plants help to provide the students with a healthier environment, improve their sense of wellbeing and also provide a teaching resource for the school.  

We have lots of exciting plans and activities planned and work closely with the students to ensure that they can share their ideas, get involved with our activities and feel that they are making a difference and part of our shared ambition towards our Eco work.

Please contact our Eco Coordinator, Ruth Simon House to find out more.

Change Ambassadors and Eco at KAR

Eco at King’s Academy Ringmer is driven by the students.  We hold our Eco Club regularly and have a Apade 2 Sppon club who grow food in the on site greenhouse. The Eco building is made of repurposed materials with a living roof to help with biodiversity. Our Change Ambassadors are eager and enthusiastic about re-wilding the school grounds to encourage wildlife, including the creation of a wildflower meadow.

        

At the club the Change Ambassadors have the opportunity to grow plants for the garden and the on site greenhouse. Work was done in 2022 with A Band of Brothers to tidy and make the Eco Hub garden more attractive to wildlife, in addition to planting trees and shrubs.  Due to the heatwave of 2022, we have replanted trees and native hedgerows, sowed wildflower seeds, repositioned the bird feeder and our wildlife camera, installed a rainwater planter outside reception, to capture water from the drainpipe as well as holding a litter pick and working with St Mary’s Church in Ringmer to assist with their Eco work, and also with an indigenous village in Brazil through the charity RAIN.