Biddenham Upper School is pleased to announce the winners of an essay-writing award on the theme of sustainability in memory of John Crookall-Greening.
John Crookall-Greening, who sadly passed away earlier this year, founded the Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum (BCCF) ten years ago.
Originally called the Bedfordshire Renewable Energy Forum its purpose is to consider environmental issues peculiar to Bedfordshire, providing information, widening horizons and contributing to what is the most important debate for the early 21st century in a positive and independent way. It also acts as a critical friend, offering a focussed viewpoint free from considerations of profit or self-advancement.
Following John’s passing, his widow, Grace and the new chairman of BCCF, Tony Mitchell, have provided Biddenham Upper with a fund to hold an essay-writing award in John’s memory on the theme of sustainability. Last term all year 9 students were given the opportunity to discuss the issues in Citizenship and Science lessons as well as being given support in English lessons to write their essays.
Students were given four essay titles from which to choose:
- ‘We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children’ (Native American Proverb)
Given that previous generations are responsible for creating the unsustainable society that our generation now lives in, what does the proverb above mean to you and how does it make you feel? - Are our own personal actions just as important as national and international agreements when it comes to saving the planet?
- If humans are not responsible for climate change, should we abandon costly sustainable development? Why?
- How could the people of Bedfordshire create a sustainable community?
The fund is to be used to award the most inspirational essays with a £10 book voucher.
In addition to this, after hearing of the award, local businessman Dr Jan Telensky has generously offered a grand prize of a long weekend to stay at Aqua City in Slovakia, the world’s leading green resort. Another local businessman interested in promoting sustainable thinking in young people, Alisdaire Lockhart, has also generously offered £100 for a second place award. Following this the school decided to create a third place award of £30.
The Winners
The ten finalists are as follows:
1st place
Jack Broughton – for detailed consideration of ideas including solutions that Biddenham Upper could implement.
2nd place
Kayleigh Wiltshire – for a well-expressed and thoughtful argument with a good grasp of the issues in a global perspective.
3rd place
Emma Kerr – for creative writing that gives perspective over a young person’s life.
Weronika Golda – for very well researched essay with a good historical perspective.
Zara Habib – strong argument for the importance of individual action.
Holly Tapley – for a very well written essay with a good range of examples and an awareness of the importance of biodiversity
Jessica Copeland – for encapsulating the meaning of sustainability.
Louis Flashman – for awareness of many of the issues involved in personal action.
Hannah Fisher - for a good exploration of sustainable practises and encouraging all to take part.
Yusef Atta – for a bold approach to answering the question that challenges the negative perception of climate change.
