Adam Williams, Headmaster of Lord Wandsworth College in Dorset, on how students are rising to the challenge of building a better and greener future

I remember it as though it were yesterday. It was before dawn. An uncomfortable night, in an uncomfortable tent, on an uncomfortable slope in coastal Dorset had woken me early. I pulled on a dewy outfit, navigated around the guy ropes and found myself on the coastal path.

 The wind whispered through the branches as I climbed to a rocky platform, overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean. The sea, initially gentle, became a canvas for the chill wind that started to tug at my sleeve. I nestled into a small, sheltered nook, folded my arms and witnessed the dawn flowing over the rippling waves towards Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. It was exquisite.

As I watched from my perch, the first boats chugged towards their fishing grounds, while the cries of gannets and gulls echoed from the shoreline. This period of stillness was stirring. It was uplifting and reflective – a life-affirming experience that ignited a desire to seek out genuine tranquillity in every moment.

Today, the threat to our coastal existence is palpable. One-in-one-hundred-year storms occur with greater frequency, exacerbating the gradual rise in sea levels brought on by warming oceans and melting glaciers. If all land-based ice were to melt, projections indicate that sea levels could rise by an alarming 70 metres. This scenario is not just the stuff of dystopian fiction; it serves as a chilling reminder of the future we could face.

However, change is on the horizon and driven largely by our younger generations. Recent research suggests that Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha are increasingly concerned about climate change and environmental impacts. They are passionate about pushing for solutions and educational institutions are responding.

“Our students are ready to lead on environmental challenges and continue to shape the remarkable landscape that we share”

At Lord Wandsworth College, we are embracing the urgency of sustainability within our hilltop setting.  LWC students have a love of big skies, windswept landscapes and woodland adventures. Their voice has seen an explosion of action. We no longer plough or coppice and our community recycling centre is remarkable. We also read the stars from outside our boarding houses. 

Our pupils have helped to drive outdoor learning initiatives, the creation of wildflower meadows, environmental stewardship margins, our 5k park run and the integration of renewable energy sources. We intend to be off grid in 12 years. The 35,000 bees who join us in a few weeks will love it.

We have appointed a remarkable Head of Outdoor Learning, transformed our Saturday morning activity programme and had pupils develop a satellite for tracking forest fires. Our collective response to climate change draws on innovation and environmental stewardship, building design and the greening and pedestrianising of the urban school landscape (complete with electric charging points and solar panels, of course). Oh, and good luck spotting a mobile phone.

By fostering curiosity, creativity, collaboration and innovation in this inspirational setting of 1.200 acres, our students are ready to lead on environmental challenges and continue to shape the remarkable landscape that we share with so many. Access to outdoor space provides truly limitless opportunities.

Fast forward to the future… As I settle back into that chalky nook overlooking the Jurassic Coast, in my (still somewhat distant) retirement, I am sure the next generation of sleek and hyper-efficient wind turbines will glint beautifully in the setting sun to the west of Durdle Door. They may even have been designed by some of our LWC pupils.

Lord Wandsworth College lordwandsworth.org

Further reading: Pangbourne College on the value of academic adventures

Dorset independent schools Feature Featured Lord Wandsworth College senior Sixth Form