Royal Harbour Academy students explore the impact of plastic on the environment

RHA students carried out a beach clean in Ramsgate

Students at the Royal Harbour Academy have spent the week learning about the impact of plastic on the environment.

Youngsters were inspired by a series of especially planned science lessons and cross curricular activities across the school.

To start the week students investigated how synthetic clothes release microplastics when washed.

PhD student eco-toxicologist Lewis Yardy, from the University of Reading, delivered an intriguing lesson where pupils investigated how toxicity affects aquatic wildlife.

In their English lessons students wrote a letter to South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay, asking him to take action to reduce single use plastics in the community.

After learning the shocking statistic that more than one million plastic bottles are used globally every minute, Year 7 students came up with the idea of having drinking water refill stations on Broadstairs and Ramsgate seafront. Students argued this could significantly reduce the amount of plastic that gets left on our beautiful beaches during the summer months.

A selection of students met Mr Mackinlay on the Friday morning to hand over their persuasive letters. The MP spoke to the students about how he had been fortunate enough to hear Sir David Attenborough speak the previous week and how impressed he was with the project that the students had been working on.

Science week was brought to a close on Saturday morning when students, teachers, friends and family of The Royal Harbour Academy came together for a big beach clean.

Teacher Kristian Lasslett. who organised the activities, said: “We have been unrelenting in ensuring the very best for our students at The Royal Harbour Academy and our new year 7 curriculum has been completely transformational in doing this. The new model provides us with endless opportunities to inspire students both within and across subjects.

“Dedicated staff have delivered lessons that, judging by the response, our students will remember for many years to come. Topics such as plastic invoke so much passion and empathy from young people and it is crucial that as educators, we help our students understand the consequences that human’s actions are having on the planet. Only by inspiring change will the next generation make positive difference in the future”.

2 Comments

  1. This is so encouraging. The future of the planet rests in all our hands and we need to ensure that Parliament comes on board. Well done Harbour Academy!

  2. This school is going from strength to strength – this
    Such a great project the young people will remember
    All their lives – hats off to such a fab team of
    Teachers bringing the opportunity to so many
    Bright young minds.

Comments are closed.