UTC Swindon students lead the way on sustainability at multi-academy trust summit

Student council representatives from UTC Swindon were among those at a key multi-academy trust summit.

They were among students from all six schools in Activate Learning Education Trust (ALET) at the historic Maison Française d’Oxford for a day of collaboration focused on sustainability.

The event, attended by 45 students, focused on embedding the Trust’s core attributes -Resilient, Enterprising, Confident, Aware and Professional - into the Trust’s vision for sustainability.

Led by the Trust’s central team and school staff, students explored what sustainability means to them, what skills they’ll need for the future, and how their councils can lead change on issues like waste and sustainable travel to shape a more sustainable future in education.

ALET CEO Joanne Harper addressed the students, emphasising their vital role in driving environmental change: “This is what education is about - empowering students with purpose and vision. You are our future leaders…your ideas are really important.”

She added that this cross-school collaboration would contribute to ALET’s five-year strategy, which places student leadership, sustainability and values-driven education at its core, empowering students to have their say on sustainability helps build a culture of shared purpose across all ALET schools - preparing young people to be thoughtful, capable leaders.

Aryish, head of the student council at UTC Swindon said: “I think having the students collaborate their ideas for the future of the school is really important, because if the students aren’t happy they’re not going to want to stay. And it’s important to talk about sustainability in education as you’re building the steps that students will take become more mindful in the future.”

Ceici, a Year 11 student from UTC Swindon said: “Sustainability is important to talk about in schools because not only is it something we’re going to grow up into, it’s something we’re going to have to try and solve. We don’t want to leave the world in a state for future generations.”

This event marks the first in a series of planned cross-school leadership gatherings within ALET, reinforcing student voice and collaboration across the Trust.

Students will now take their ideas back to their individual school councils to begin implementing their action plans throughout the 2025-26 academic year.