The Thomas Hardye School became the Winner of the Sustainable Schools National Teacher Award in a ceremony in Bath yesterday. The school was nominated by a Year 8 pupils from Puddletown St. Mary's after listening to an assembly given by the Thomas Hardye Student Voice on reducing the carbon footprint in the locality by 10%.

As a specialist science college and the only secondary school in the area, the links within the DASP partnership and through the Specialist science college input, have allowed significant collaboration to happen. The school has been able to spread the word about sustainability.

The sustainability agenda permeates life at the school and gives scope for students to enhance their learning and their knowledge of the planet. Experts brought in to discuss global issues with students and the ability to host the community lectures to inform local people of the work has encouraged active participation from others.

Thomas Hardye has worked with a number of groups and organisation including the Duchy of Cornwall, the Jurassic Coast Project and the Environment Agency. The dining room is now run by the school and provides healthy options, locally sourced food and Fair Trade drinks. Paper, plastic bottles and other material are recycled and electrical appliances have labels reminding users to switch them off when finished. Following an audit, pipes and valves have been lagged, and electric doors installed to save heat. The judges mentioned that the "school's ethos is relentless optimism which underpins its belief in its young people and the future." They described it as "an exceptional establishment" and mentioned "walking through the school it is apparent in every avenue that sustainable activities are embedded here." They wrote "The Headteacher has empowered the staff to develop and experiment with sustainability, embedding this into the school's culture."

We now go on the represent the West of England for the national finals in London this October.