In a bid to inspire students across the organisation to engage with climate justice, learn Green Skills and find practical ways to develop their sustainability citizenship, leaders at Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet) signed up for the Planet Earth Games, a student competition organised by Pearson and supported by AoC sport.
This enrichment activity reached young students across the whole organisation who were learning in all subject areas. Students found out about the seven Planet Earth themes and were challenged to be ambitious in the ways that they could collaborate to reduce carbon, minimise waste and connect to nature. Teams assembled on different projects, often coming together within one curriculum area, but also in ways that linked several curriculum areas around an initiative.
Fitness and Uniformed Public Services students advised others on how to reduce their carbon footprint using the WWF carbon footprint Calculator. The Football Academy addressed responsible travel by abandoning their minibus in favour for travel to training venues via public transport for a month. To demonstrate how to minimise waste, Engineering and Construction students produced some prize trophies using recycled plastic and unused wood. Elsewhere litter picking was started, bike rides for students were organised and an area of the campus was cleared and renovated to create a garden. The garden was created by Uniformed Public Services students working with students from Supported Learning and with advice from the Horticulture Department. This has attracted he keen interest of A level students who are now planning to expand this into an urban farm. Even if they were not directly involved in a project, all students had a chance to make a personal commitment via a pledge board which was located prominently in campuses.
BMet’s successful submission was awarded third prize nationally with credit given for the wide range of projects and activities; all seven themes were covered, all campuses and learning areas got involved and there was a wide breadth of ideas where each area did something different.
Apart from learning about the multitude of ways to apply Green Skills in everyday life and learning, students enjoyed being part of a prize-winning college, and benefitted from getting involved, making friends and learning to work across their subject areas. As a result of the connections made, some students got volunteer and paid jobs at Sutton Park National Nature Reserve, working with park rangers. The gardening club which was started is now still going strong and recently provided produce to support participation in the BRIT Challenge in 2024. BMet students certainly have the taste for competition.
Jason Allen, Department Director for Business & Professional, Sport and Apprenticeships at the college, said: “The Planet Earth Games initiatives have helped to raise awareness of environmental sustainability among BMet’s student community and encouraged them to take concrete steps towards supporting the college’s drive towards sustainability.”
