Education Today Education Today Magazine
The winners of this year’s OVO Foundation Nature Prize have been announced, with 30 schools, colleges and nurseries across the UK set to receive funding to bring their inspiring green project to life.
These projects will prepare schools for floods and heatwaves, inspire pupils and give them new skills, and bring schools and communities together.
Winners include Stoke Park Primary School in Bristol. Eco-lead Ms Rogers said: “we are delighted to win this prize. The funding will enable pupils to develop practical skills by growing their own fruit and vegetables, while deepening their understanding of sustainability. The Eco Team has already begun planning the launch of a new gardening club.”
Izzy is a year one pupil at Lenthall Infant and Nursery School in Derbyshire. This winning school will create a bee-friendly sensory garden, including a water play zone. Izzy says: “Bees help our flowers grow, and we want to look after them. I can’t wait to plant seeds and see the bees come to visit our garden.”
Other winners include Longshaw Primary Academy in North London, who will create a ‘living classroom’ around their school pond, complete with bird feeders and bug hotels. Another, The Kimberley School in Nottingham, will run weekend workshops at their allotment, welcoming pupils and parents as well as local community groups.
Many of the projects will grow healthy, fresh food for young people and their families – or create more comfortable classrooms, using plants to create heat-absorbing ‘green walls’ and natural shading.
Winning schools will get funding of £500 to bring their project to life. The full list of winners can be seen here.
The OVO Foundation Nature Prize has taken place every year since 2023, and is run in partnership between OVO Foundation and Let’s Go Zero. OVO Foundation is OVO Energy’s climate-focused charity, launched in 2014 to support children and young people with access to nature and climate education. Let’s Go Zero, created by climate charity Ashden, is the campaign for all UK schools, colleges and nurseries to be zero carbon by 2030.
More than 8,600 UK schools – including all the competition winners – have signed up to the campaign. Joining is free, and brings schools benefits like tailored support from expert advisors. Let’s Go Zero also works with government to grow national support for sustainable schools.
Alex Green, Head of Let’s Go Zero, said: “Congratulations to our winning schools. The standard of entries was fantastic, so to make the list is a real triumph. Nature-rich schools create so many benefits. They help young people stay active and healthy, and also enjoy inspiring hands-on lessons and activities. I’m delighted that the OVO Foundation Nature Prize is bringing these benefits to more communities around the UK.”
Vicki Sinclair, Senior Projects & Communications Manager at OVO Foundation, said: “It is an inspiration to see the creativity and ambition of the schools entering the Nature Prize. We’re delighted to support this year’s 30 winners, whose brilliant projects will empower students and communities to spend more time in nature, gain access to outdoor education, and catalyse local climate action.”
