Oratory prep learns ecology

12 March 2010

Making trend-setting clothes from recycled materials, learning about the importance of clean water systems at their African partner school and discovering flora and fauna along a woodland walk in their own school grounds were among the activities enjoyed by all Oratory Preparatory School pupils during their Environment Focus Day.

Environment awareness was the common thread linking all the activities and lessons throughout the day on Tuesday, February 15, as the entire school in Goring Heath, south Oxfordshire, took part in the annual event. The day culminated in an all-school assembly in which pupils presented their work to each other. The activities were based on the ideas of pupils on the school council and the day was co-ordinated by Trevor Peters, head of science.

Each year’s activities were different, and this year the children enjoyed a woodland walk through the school’s grounds. Other activities included planting seeds, creating board games, writing and performing plays, producing sculptures, writing poems and making wedding outfits.

A key aspect of the day was the focus on the Oratory Preparatory School’s partner school in Ngwabi, South Africa. Pupils and parents have raised thousands of pounds in recent years to provide clean water systems, classrooms, toilets, books and sports equipment for Ngwabi. The Oratory Preparatory received an International School Award from the British Council for its work with Ngwabi and for integrating a global dimension into its curriculum, overseen by David Osborn, head of Mathematics. On Tuesday, Oratory Preparatory School pupils in Year 3 brought in an unwanted toy and in a sale raised more than £100 for Ngwabi.