Local secondary school students take part in Sustainability Enrichment Day at the University of York
Posted on Thursday 26 June 2025
Last Wednesday, 40 students from four local secondary schools took part in a Sustainability Enrichment Day at the University of York, held in the Spring Lane Building on Campus West. The event brought together pupils in Years 9 and 10, all from schools within the University’s PGCE partnership, to explore sustainability through hands-on workshops and group activities.
The day was designed to inspire and engage students by offering them the chance to build their understanding of environmental sustainability; experience university life first-hand; and meet peers from other schools and work collaboratively.
It was also a valuable opportunity for our PGCE Geography trainee teachers, who led the morning sessions as part of their teacher training programme.
Three interactive workshops introduced key sustainability topics:
- Climate adaptation and decarbonisation
- Biodiversity and connecting with nature
- Jobs and careers in the green economy
In the afternoon, students put their learning into practice by reimagining Guildhall Ward in central York as a sustainable, inclusive community. Working in teams, they considered both environmental and social aspects of sustainability while also navigating the challenges posed by, and cultural value of, York’s historic cityscape.
Among the standout ideas were:
- Minster Meadows – a community park for everyone.
- Flowering e-buses – electric buses with rooftop herb gardens, with the produce donated to local food banks.
- Tourist tax – a proposal to redistribute income from tourism to support residents and green spaces.
- Brighter Future – improved street lighting to make parks and public spaces safer and more welcoming at all times.
Student teams presented their ideas as posters, which were judged by a panel of staff and external sustainability experts, including Jenny Kent (Councillor at York City Council), Mark Clough (Sustainability Manager, DTEF), and Dr Adrian Gonzalez (Senior Lecturer in Sustainability, Department of Environment and Geography), and Professor Carolyn Snell (Professor of Social Policy, School for Business and Society).
Dr Gonzalez praised the students’ creativity and the trainees’ contributions:
“There were some fantastic and highly innovative ideas—like Minster Meadows, which included expanding wildflower areas in Minster park. It was great to see such thoughtful and imaginative approaches. It also reflects the high-quality teaching by the University of York Geography PGCE trainees, who showed a strong understanding of sustainability in the curriculum.”
Georgia Ramsay, PGCE Curriculum Area Leader for Geography, also reflected on the impact of the event:
“The Sustainability Enrichment Day has become an integral part of the PGCE year. It is not only a chance for the beginning teachers to showcase creative approaches to teaching about sustainability, but also a real test of leadership and the organisational skills that underpin curriculum enrichment events. It is my hope that these skills will be carried on into early careers as they become advocates for sustainability in their classrooms and wider schools.”
As part of the afternoon, students also took part in a youth voice activity with St Nicks, sharing their priorities for climate action and sustainability efforts that matter to young people.
The day concluded with prizes awarded to joint winners Fulford School and All Saints Catholic School for their imaginative sustainable city plans.
Picture: one of the winning schools, All Saints, with their poster.
Thank you to all the students, teachers, and staff who took part, and to the University of York Students’ Union Sustainable Development Grant for sponsoring the event.