Ribble Valley schools hold second annual cop-style climate crisis conference

The conference – known as ‘CORVS 2’ which stands for ‘Council of Ribble Valley Schools’ – kicked off with an inspiring opening address from Ribble Valley Mayor, Councillor Louise Edge.

Keynote speaker Francis Hyland, a renowned author from the Eco Schools Project, then captivated the audience with a thought-provoking presentation on how small changes in schools can make a big difference.

Students engaged in hands-on workshops, including invertebrate sampling to monitor river water quality, building bird boxes, and crafting meat-free menus for school dinners. Among many of the day’s highlights was a motivating seminar by St Christopher’s High School in Accrington who showcased their successful “Solar for Schools” initiative, underlining how student efforts can lead to a significant portion of a school's energy being provided by solar panels.

Reception children joined the older students in planting sunflower seeds and making seed-balls for birds, demonstrating that every action, no matter how small, contributes to a bigger programme of change.

The expert panel, featuring Councillor Louise Edge, Jack Spees (CEO Ribble Rivers Trust), Gary Young (Heidelberg Materials), Rachel Tomlinson (Headteacher at Barrowford Primary School), and Francis Hyland, fielded a variety of insightful questions from students. Discussions ranged from food waste disposal to advocating for impactful policies and exploring cost-effective solar energy alternatives.

Progress from last year’s pledges was displayed, showcasing tangible results and motivating new commitments. Students and staff made fresh pledges, including:

· Ribblesdale: Re-open the school greenhouse and use the produce in cookery classes.

· Clitheroe Royal Grammar: Campaign for better public transport to reduce car travel by sixth formers.

· Pleckgate HS: Expand meat-free Mondays to “Taste Tuesdays” featuring new vegan or vegetarian dishes.

· Oakhill: Organise a termly house litter pick competition.

· Stonyhurst: Use alumni and family links to learn more about sustainable practices.

· Bowland HS: Sell eco-pens that grow into wildflowers when planted and populate the school boundary with over 100 hedgerow plants.

Staff and students left the conference uplifted and motivated.

Jennie Lynch from Oakhill said:

“It was an inspiring day highlighting the importance of young people understanding and caring for their environment.”

Jonathan Powell from Clitheroe Grammar echoed this sentiment, adding:

“It was great to see young people embracing the challenge and working together. We need to remember to work with nature and to make space for nature – as we are part of nature – part of the biosphere – our planet.”

Next year’s conference promises to be even bigger, with schools from outside the area expressing interest in joining. Oakhill College is set to host the next event, and initial planning is already underway.

David Rawkins, organiser of CORVS 2, said:

"While the COP conference unites world leaders, it's crucial to drive change locally too. This student conference hopes to inspire a wave of other local initiatives that, together, can drive significant global impact. Every action counts, and together, we can all make a difference.”