Highgate pupils and staff are participating in the ‘School Strike 4 Climate’ in Parliament Square today.
A small group from Highgate’s pupil-led Environment Committee, plus three teachers, are joining the rally as part of an official school trip.
Ms Mynott, one of the teachers who will accompany pupils, explains: ‘Highgate is committed to being a sustainable school and our Senior School Environment Committee plays a big part in this. We have dedicated membership of over 25 pupils, representing every year group from Years 7-13, who show significant interest and engagement in environmental concerns. We have been taking meaningful action in a number of ways to reduce our School’s ecological footprint, but it’s also important to think about trying to raise awareness and make positive change outside of our immediate community.
‘Peaceful protest is a vital part of any democracy, and is perhaps particularly important for those who do not yet have a vote. We are so pleased to be able to offer younger pupils a chance to see this element of our politics in action, as well as listen to many interesting and inspiring speakers at the rally. In our most recent Environment Committee meeting, pupils designed and made placards for them to voice their feelings, using re-cycled and waste materials.’
The Youth Strikes for Climate is a global movement that began last summer, when 15 year old Greta Thunberg walked out of school and sat outside the Swedish parliament to protest insufficient government action on climate change. Greta has continued to do this every Friday since and is now the figurehead behind a vast and growing movement of young people. With almost 500 events listed to take place across 51 countries, Friday 15 March should be one of the biggest environmental protests the world has ever seen.
Highgate pupils and staff are proud to take part in this global day of action and support a movement that aims to ‘change the face of humanity’.
