Climate change workshops help kids develop interest in tomorrow’s technologies and skills

Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme triggers learning for London schoolchildren

Students promise to be at the heart of net zero plans for one London school where workshops about new skills to help save the planet will be key to learning. 

The pupils at Hampstead School, Camden, will be invited to take part in a series of climate change workshops as part of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme works happening on the site.

Whilst the school gets on with the job of educating our leaders of tomorrow, it is also a busy work site where new technologies are being installed.

Camden Council alongside contractors is keen that children are involved in the net zero ambition and are kept in touch with why this work is important to reduce carbon emissions and help improve the health of our planet.

Our team at Salix visited the secondary school to find out more.

Camden Council was successful in securing £1.2m towards retrofitting Hampstead School under Phase 3b of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, and an extra £450,000 in Phase 3c for Primrose Primary School. 

At Hampstead, it means that they are able to install air source heat pumps, loft insulation, LED lighting, double glazing, and solar PV. 

Works are expected to be completed by July 2025, whilst nearby Primrose School is still in the design stage. Together the schools are expected to save almost 260 tonnes of CO2e annum. 

Contractors Ameresco are set to run practical workshops for the students. This promises to give them an insight into how the green technologies work as well as the kinds of skills required to work in the sector.

The contractors have already run several projects including sessions at nearby Acland Burghley School, volunteering at Abbey Community Centre Food Club as well as an on-site workshop for Euston Skills Centre learners at West Hampstead Library.

The initiative has been used across other schools where Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme works have taken place. 

It helps bring the issues of climate change into the children’s learning so it means they can start thinking about the positive impact of green technologies and skills required for the future.

The works at the school have included replacing boilers with heat pumps, upgrading insulation and windows, and generating renewable energy with solar panels. These works have helped bring to life the energy efficiency topic for students.

During our visit, we were able to explore more carefully the challenges of installing new technology in a beautiful Victorian building.

Our Salix client support officer Ellen Wingrove said: “There is a real sense of history here at Hampstead School, but also a genuine desire to protect our future, and not just our past.

“It’s very inspiring how the school is using water source heat pumps alongside the air source heat pumps; we don’t see too many projects doing this.”

During the visit our team was able to see how the water source heat pumps were being installed in an outbuilding in the middle of the school. The area was previously redundant so is now being put to good use.

Our team was also able to climb onto the roof to view the solar panels. There are more than 100 individual panels installed on the roof supplying energy for a large part of the school site.

The team was also able to visit the sports hall where new LED lighting has been installed, offering a more energy efficient and bright space. 

Ellen added: “We were so impressed by the care and attention to the windows, they seem in keeping and yet are also better for the insulation and energy efficiency of the building.

“I think this is a great way to restore old buildings but also make sure they are included in decarbonisation goals and targets.”

The London Borough of Camden declared a climate and ecological emergency in 2019. The council has developed its Climate Action Plan 2020-2025, which outlines a programme of projects and activities for the council to help us achieve net zero by 2030.