In 2018 the Secretary of State for Education set schools nationwide the challenge of becoming plastic waste-free by 2022. If schools are to hit this milestone, there’s work to be done. Thankfully, we have the solution – it’s called Plastic Clever Schools.

Join us and expert panellists to learn:

• About Plastic Clever Schools and how the challenge can drastically reduce plastic waste
• How to encourage pupil-led action and why it’s important
  
• Ways to increase engagement, participation and impact
• How to be part of the movement by signing up and joining if you're a school or championing Plastic Clever Schools and promoting it to your constituency/county

Register for the event here.

Meet our panellists:

Dan Worth has more than ten years of experience writing news, features, opinions, analysis, reviews and more across a range of leading publications including The Guardian, The Telegraph, TES, and the BBC. In his role at Tes, he specialises international schools and has hosted the publication’s My Best Teacher and Tes International podcasts.

Simon Baynes MP, was elected as a Conservative MP in December 2019. Simon’s main focus in politics has always been on community issues. Simon puts the countryside, farming and the environment, particularly the importance of climate change, at the centre of his work as an MP, building on his previous experience as the Chairman of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust and setting up the Cae Bodfach Community Field and Orchard. He is also a member of the Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill, the Welsh Affairs select Committee and Treasurer of the All Party Parliamentary Group Wales in the World which promotes Wales on the world stage.

Ian Paisley MP, has represented his constituency since 1996 when he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue. In 1998 he was then elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Antrim. As a member of the Assembly Ian served as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee and also as a Junior Minister in the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister from 2007 until 2008. He was also a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board from 2001 until 2007. He currently undertakes the roles of Shadow DUP Spokesperson (Culture, Media and Sport), and Shadow DUP Spokesperson (Communities and Local Government).

Amy launched Kids Against Plastic with her sister, Ella, in 2016. Together they have educated young people, given talks and spoken to MPs in Parliament about our campaign to stem the global use of single use plastic and be more ‘Plastic Clever’. Amy is glad to have played a critical role, along with Ella, in getting both Gedling Borough Council and the Houses of Parliament to sign up to becoming Plastic Clever.

Jo is a former trans-ocean sailing and racing skipper and founded Common Seas to create new policy and systems to tackle plastic pollution globally. Common Seas works internationally across the UK, Greece, Indonesia and the Maldives. Jo leads Common Seas’ work in empowering international scientific advocacy on the health impact of plastic waste. Through Common Seas’ Ocean Plastics Academy, Jo supports educators in equipping the next generation of sea champions.

Register for the event here.

What is Plastic Clever Schools?

A collaborative initiative from Common Seas and Kids Against Plastic, Plastic Clever Schools is a movement that supports young people to lead a plastic waste revolution in their schools, in their communities and in their futures. We know young people care deeply about the environment. Time and again they’ve shown they’re dedicated and effective advocates for our planet. Supporting this passion with action is where Plastic Clever Schools comes in. Learn more about Plastic Clever Schools here and click here for more information on our Ocean Plastic Academy including links to free resources.

Why is it needed?

1) We need everyone - school leaders, teachers, local authority officers and MPs - to champion the Plastic Clever Schools Challenge so that as many children as possible can be part of this empowering campaign to drive change.

2) 2022 is already here. To meet the Government's plastic-waste free target for schools, we need to act quickly. Plastic Clever Schools has everything schools need to take action.

Who is taking part?

230 schools across the country are already on their journey, with Nottinghamshire set to become the first Plastic Clever County. Is your county next?

Register for the event here.