In December 2025, Buckinghamshire Council hosted the final of the Green Schools Challenge, inviting year 12 students from six local secondary schools to share their ideas in a ‘Dragons’ Den-style’ format. The initiative empowers Year 12 students to tackle real-world environmental challenges faced by their schools, working alongside local businesses to develop creative, sustainable solutions.
Organiser Emily Biggs, Business Manager Lead, shared, “Each of our six participating schools – Buckingham School, Waddesdon Church of England School, Highcrest Academy, John Colet School, Aylesbury High School and St Michael’s Catholic School – were allocated a supporting business as a mentor, to help them create and present ideas that reduce carbon footprints and promote green skills for the future.
“Our judges were particularly impressed by the students’ from Buckingham School, whose ‘Junk to Genius’ idea, was designed to give old tech new life, reducing the demand for new Chromebooks to be built and saving energy and resources.
“This challenge is designed to help young people develop and display a range of employability, technical, creative and academic skills, but also shows us all what can be possible if we think creatively.”