Packmoor Ormiston Academy pupils take centre stage in this year’s Great Big School Clean.
The Great Big School Clean is the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign. Ran by Keep Britain Tidy, it encourages pupils across the UK to care for their surroundings and show pride in their communities through pledging to take part in litter-picking.
As part of the campaign, Packmoor Ormiston Academy pupils will be rolling up their sleeves to tidy up their community and raise awareness for a cleaner, greener future. This coincides with the academy’s current work towards achieving its 10th Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction.
The school was recently praised by Keep Britain Tidy for its pupils’ enthusiastic commitment to saving the planet, and the young environmental advocates will now be featured in national billboards for the campaign, reinforcing their dedication to keeping Britain tidy.
The school’s involvement forms part of Ormiston Academies Trust’s wider commitment to sustainability, with 37 of its 44 schools achieving a prestigious Green Flag award since 2021. In recognition of the Trust’s pioneering eco-work, Rachel McCarthy, National Enrichment Lead at Ormiston, was recently invited to attend and speak at the exclusive launch of Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean campaign in the House of Commons.
Hosted by Deirdre Costigan MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Keep Britain Tidy, Ormiston was the only multi-academy trust invited to the event. Representatives from the Trust joined MPs, Local Authorities, and #LitterHeroes Ambassadors to speak on the importance of empowering the next generation to protect the planet.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: “At Keep Britain Tidy we believe nobody is too small to make a big difference.
“We’re incredibly proud of the Ormiston school community – especially the pupils who feature in our national advertisements – because by taking action to protect the environment they are inspiring others to do the same.”
Peter Moore, Principal at Packmoor Ormiston Academy, said: “We are incredibly proud that our pupils are at the heart of the Great Big School Clean campaign this year. They have been so enthusiastic about doing their bit to protect the planet, and this is an amazing opportunity for them to showcase their commitment to sustainability on a national stage.
“We’ve loved taking part in this initiative, as part of our school’s belief in empowering pupils to take real action for a cleaner, greener community, and look forward to seeing our pupils build on this.”
Rachel McCarthy, National Enrichment Lead at Ormiston Academies Trust, said: “Packmoor Ormiston Academy’s involvement in the Great Big School Clean is a fantastic example of how young people can drive real change. Their passion and dedication to sustainability continue to make a meaningful difference, and we are delighted to see them featured in the national campaign.
“At Ormiston Academies Trust, we are committed to fostering a culture of environmental responsibility across our schools, supporting all our pupils to become active and caring citizens.”