GREEN FUTURES AWARDS

Bright Futures For Henley

The Green Futures Awards is the first independently-run, hyper-local awards programme supporting schools in embedding climate and nature action and education into their everyday learning and operations. 

 
Green Futures Awards Logo

The Green Futures programme is inclusive, reaching out to all local schools in Henley and the surrounding area, wherever they are on their sustainability journey. Within the programme we run two annual events – a Schools Science Fair and an Environmental Science Challenge.

To understand the criteria, commitments and benefits at each level, please read our Green Futures Awards – Programme Guide

How the Awards Work
History of the Awards
Which schools are eligible?
Green Futures Beyond Henley
A group of school children come together doing an exercise at the science fair

How the Green Futures Awards work

Our Green Futures Awards recognise and celebrate schools’ climate and nature action at three progressive levels:

  • The Bronze award focuses on building strong communication and engagement, celebrating each school’s sustainability progress and sharing successes with their wider community.
  • Silver moves into action, with pupils actively involved in climate and nature initiatives while sustainability is embedded into teaching.  At this level, schools begin measuring and reducing their environmental impact as well as starting to develop operational plans around resilience.
  • The Gold level represents sector leadership, supporting schools to implement a comprehensive climate action plan and embed long-term sustainability and resilience across the whole school.

Greener Henley’s awards programme is rooted in the Henley community, linking schools directly with local nature campaigns and events such as Greener Henley’s Nature Squared campaign.  It uniquely embeds resilience at its heart, helping schools to prepare for increasing climate impacts such as flash flooding and intense heat.

History of the Awards

Launched online in October 2025 to an initial audience of 15 local schools, the awards generated immediate interest and a strong first wave of applications. 

By February 2026, the first cohort had been recognised with 12 awards.  Gillotts School received the first Silver award, and Sonning Common Primary received the first Gold award.

“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.”
Catharine Darnton
Gillotts School
Isaac Urch and Theo Khoury from Gillotts school showing their Silver award certificate with headteacher, Catharine Darnton
Isaac Urch and Theo Khoury from Gillotts school showing their Silver award certificate with headteacher, Catharine Darnton
Children from Sonning Common Primary School proudly displaying their Gold certificate
Sonning Common Primary School was the first school to be awarded the Gold certificate

Which schools are eligible?

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, at [LINK TO SIGN UP FORM}

Green Futures Beyond Henley

At Greener Henley, we believe the Green Futures Awards have the potential to inspire communities beyond our town.

We are delighted to share our resources and learning with local groups across the country who would like to develop similar initiatives in their own areas. By working together and exchanging ideas, we can amplify the impact of community-led climate and nature action nationwide.

If you’d like to understand more about what the Awards involve – including their aims, structure, and community impact – you can watch the recording of our online launch event here.

We’d love to hear from groups interested in bringing Green Futures to their own communities.