Education for Social Responsibility

ESR was created to address the critical need to prepare children to face 21st-century challenges like climate change, resource depletion, and social injustice. Traditional education often overlooks these issues, so our aim is to instil social and environmental responsibility, empowering them to grow into ethical leaders who prioritise sustainability, fairness and empathy

ESR is a comprehensive initiative that permeates every aspect of our school community. Our curriculum integrates sustainability and ethics across all year groups, with topics like climate change and ethical trade woven into traditional subjects like geography and science. We look at ways to bring ESR into everything we teach and every aspect of school life. Crucially, this starts with our 2 1/2 year olds and continues throughout the school. Through hands-on projects, such as our Green Leaders program and partnerships with organizations like Twin Science, students actively engage in sustainability initiatives. Additionally, our use of technology, like STEAM-powered sustainability projects and educational resources, enhances learning and fosters innovation. Our program's success is evident in our students' awareness and passion for social responsibility, as well as the tangible impact they make within and beyond our school community.

Our Head leads ESR for the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) and gives talks to Heads' conferences. ESR is strongly promoted on the IAPS website. He writes articles and the school has teamed up with educational providers (PlanBee and Twin Science) to help deliver and raise the profile of ESR. The school supports initiatives such as the Breteau Foundation's plastic changemakers programme. Heads visit the school to find out more about implementing ESR. 2023 Inspectors said that our pupils are acutely aware of problems facing the planet, think seriously about decision-making in the world, and are keen to make small changes at school to make the environment more eco-friendly and sustainable. We aim to set up an ESR centre of excellence at school and outreach locally.

An excellent summary of the aims of the programme can be found on the PlanBee educational resources leaflet attached. Read some of the articles written by the Head, Marcus Culverwell, which outline the ethos behind the programme. Contact him directly via Reigate St Mary's to find out more.