First Schools Receive Greener Henley’s Climate and Nature Awards
First Schools Receive Greener Henley’s Climate and Nature Awards
Twelve schools in Henley and the surrounding area have become the first recipients of the Green Futures Awards, a pioneering local programme recognising measurable, practical action on climate, nature and resilience.
The initiative supports and celebrates schools in embedding climate and nature action and education into everyday learning and operations.
Awards follow a three-tier progression: Bronze recognises engagement and communication, Silver supports practical climate action and curriculum integration, and Gold rewards strategic leadership through comprehensive climate action planning and long-term resilience.
The Green Futures Awards is the first independently-run, hyper-local awards programme in the country supporting schools to take climate and nature action.
In this inaugural round, ten schools achieved Bronze status, including The Henley College, Trinity Primary, Sacred Heart Primary, Badgemore Primary and Rupert House School. Gillotts School was awarded Silver, while Sonning Common Primary School received the programme’s first Gold award.
Sonning Common Primary School receives Gold Award
Sonning Common Primary School headteacher Rachel Salmons said: “Schools play a vital role in shaping environmentally responsible young people who understand their power to protect our planet. The Green Futures Awards helps turn that learning into real, meaningful action, inspiring pupils to create a healthier, more sustainable future.”
The award assessment panel commended Sonning Common Primary for excelling in every aspect of its application, demonstrating a deep-rooted and whole-school commitment to sustainability. Over many years it has transformed its grounds into a thriving habitat through extensive tree planting, an enlarged wildlife pond, wildflower areas and dedicated spaces for birds, bees and hedgehogs, while composting and water collection reflect thoughtful environmental stewardship. The school has also taken practical steps to build climate resilience – planting for future shade, installing shelters to manage overheating, harvesting rainwater to protect habitats, and proactively addressing flood risks. With a long-established, pupil-led Eco-Council and a nationally accredited Forest School placing nature at the heart of learning, the school’s sustained action and leadership make it a truly deserving recipient of the Gold award.
If you are interested in joining the programme you can find more information and sign up here.
Awards are assessed by a panel of Greener Henley volunteers and experienced former school leaders and teachers, ensuring decisions are informed by both environmental expertise and educational insight.
“The Green Futures Awards are about recognising real, measurable progress,” said Kate Oldridge, Executive Director of Greener Henley. “We are delighted to present our first awards to schools that are leading the way in our community. This programme is unique in two ways: it is rooted in the local community – linking to initiatives such as our annual Science Fair and our Nature Squared campaign, with volunteers on hand to advise – and, unlike the national awards schemes, it supports schools in preparing for escalating climate impacts. We anticipate that it will help our local schools deliver on their ambitions faster and more easily than they would do alone.”
Silver achieved at Gillotts School
Gillotts school, which was awarded silver, was praised for championing sustainability and taking proactive steps to create a greener, climate-ready school. The school has completed a carbon footprint calculation, developed a Climate Action Plan and strengthened resilience, conducting risk assessments for active risks, such as overheating and flash flooding. Sustainability is embedded throughout the school community through initiatives such as Green Careers Week, staff sustainability training, and an established Eco-Committee.
Catharine Darnton, headteacher at Gillotts School said: “At Gillotts, we see our involvement with Greener Henley and, in particular the Green Futures Award, as integral to our Climate Action Plan. The Award structure both helps us decide on ‘what next’ and recognises and rewards what we have achieved.”
“The practical support from Greener Henley for us to play our part in taking action to meet one of the greatest challenges of our time is invaluable.”
The Green Futures Awards programme is open to schools in Henley and the surrounding areas, extending to Caversham, Wargrave, Benson, Goring-on-Thames, and the Hambleden Valley. Any schools (nursery to secondary / colleges) interested in joining the programme can find more information, including how to sign up, here, or alternatively contact Greener Henley on [email protected].
This programme has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Oxfordshire County Council and the Henley Educational Trust, whose funding has enabled the delivery of the Green Futures Awards.
Bronze Awards For Ten Local Schools
The ten local schools that have received our Bronze award are:
- Oratory Prep School
- Trinity CE Primary School
- Sacred Heart RC Primary School
- Shiplake Primary School
- Emmer Green Primary School
- Rupert House School
- The Henley College
- Frieth CE Primary School
- Kidmore End CE Primary School
- Badgemore Primary School
