Students of Langley Secondary School in Olton were treated to a special visit last week when ‘Dennis to the Rescue’ mobile classroom stopped by. As a reward for all of the sustainability activity Langley School is involved in, students got the opportunity to see a close up view of a full size refuse lorry, which has been transformed into a mobile classroom.
The ‘Dennis to the Rescue’ mobile classroom is a collaboration between Skips Educational and Dennis Eagle, a leading refuse collection truck supplier who have been manufacturing in the Midlands since 1907. Whilst on board the pupils experienced an interactive lesson on the importance of recycling and reducing waste. Representatives from the Council’s environmental initiative ‘Love Solihull’, and Solihull Zero Wasters were also on hand to speak to the children, only adding to their unique learning experience.
The visit is the latest example of Langley School’s commitment to sustainability. The school is participating in The Appliance Recycling Group Toy Amnesty, the Great British Spring Clean and once again planning to enter the Greener Solihull School Awards later in the year. Expected to have another high turnout, the long-running awards showcase the many achievements of schools across the borough and their outstanding commitment to sustainable and greener practices.
Langley School was also one of five Solihull schools which recently took part in the ‘Schools vs Climate Change’ competition organised by Planet Super League. The innovative tournament saw schools across the country score ‘green goals’ for their school by taking part in a range of eco activities. The schools involved in Solihull saved a combined 7,793 CO2e emissions, which is equivalent to planting 444 trees.
Councillor Andy Mackiewicz, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Planning and Housing, said:
“The importance of educating young people, and them educating us about reducing waste and recycling, cannot be underestimated as they will deliver net zero in Solihull. Learning about recycling in such an interactive and hands-on environment helps drive behaviour change in a way that complements traditional classroom learning. The tips that Langley School students have picked up will translate into the home environment and they’ll be able to carry these values through to adulthood. I’d like to thank Skips Educational, Dennis Eagle, Love Solihull and Solihull Zero Wasters for their support in facilitating this fantastic learning event.”
A spokesperson for Skips Educational said:
“Skips Educational (https://www.skipseducational.org/) is a Social Enterprise that focuses on the crucial significance of people’s ‘right-to-know’ especially about environmental issues and how to keep children safe online.
“Often collaborating with contractors’ Corporate Social Responsibility budgets to help fund behaviour-change-orientated activities for many Local Authorities around England, our educational programmes and resources are designed so that parents and children become co-learners, coming to understand the issues and possible responses together. Our Dennis to the Rescue mobile classroom provides a wonderful learning experience and an exemplary example of our collaborative working with Dennis Eagle, and their social values.”