On Saturday 5 April 2025 our school was transformed into a vibrant hub of sustainability and community spirit as we hosted the much-anticipated GreenFest 2025. With over a thousand members of the public in attendance from 10.30am to 3.30pm, the event exceeded all expectations and showcased our school’s commitment to environmental initiatives.
The Heritage Garden provided a picturesque setting for welcoming dignitaries including Mr Billy Drummond, Chair of West Berkshire Council, who officially opened the event, and Olivia Bailey, MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire. Our school grounds drew admiration from all visitors as they explored over 60 stalls run by local environmental organisations and businesses, all promoting sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
We’re particularly proud of our Young Enterprise team, Clean-Cut, who, during the event, won the award for “Most Sustainable and Engaging Outlook”. Team members, Charlie and Cora, represented Clean-Cut at the event, showcasing their up-cycled glassware and coasters. Their stall highlighted how sustainability is at the heart of their business – from their sourcing and production to packaging and presentation. As a result of their win, the team received a £50 prize to invest back into their business, as well as making many sales to customers throughout the day.
Cora, Young Enterprise Team Member, said: “Winning this award means a lot to us. We’ve worked so hard to ensure that our enterprise reflects our commitment to sustainability, so it is amazing to see that effort recognised. GreenFest was a great event and we were thrilled to be a part of it”
Mrs Seward, Head of Business, added, “Following their success at the Young Enterprise trade fair, it is a fantastic achievement for ‘Clean Cut’ to win this award at GreenFest. I am proud of the hard work they have put in to developing this company and achieving their goals. We will now get to work on preparing for the area final on 6 May, a good result at this event would mean progressing to the Young Enterprise Regional Final.”
Our Kintsugi Club showcased their artistic talents by selling beautiful repaired pottery, demonstrating the Japanese art of embracing flaws and imperfections. Additionally, our Guardians of the Living Realm Club ran a popular stall selling badges depicting our charismatic wildlife: Socks the Fox, Brian the Badger, Owlivia Hooton John the Owl, and Philip the Hedgehog. Their enthusiasm for conservation was evident as they shared information about our biodiversity initiatives with visitors, and the money raised will go towards our Nature Reserve Restoration project. Our school’s Sustainability Lead, Miss Barrett, also gave a talk on the ways we are making St Bart’s more sustainable, sharing our journey and inspiring other organisations to join in.
The success of GreenFest wouldn’t have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of our Facilities and Lettings teams. Their attention to detail and hard work ensured that all aspects of the event ran smoothly, from set-up to clean-up, allowing everyone to focus on enjoying the festivities.
As Ken Neal, Chair of West Berkshire Green Exchange, noted during the event, “Our thanks go to Dr David Fitter, Headteacher of St Bartholomew’s School, and his staff for welcoming us in and allowing the use of these wonderful facilities.”
We’re proud to have partnered with West Berkshire Green Exchange for this impactful community event that has sparked meaningful conversations about sustainability that will continue long after the festival.
Just before the Easter holidays we were treated to the dramatic feast that is the House Drama Competition. Year 12 Drama students wrote, organised and directed a cast of Year 8 and 10 students in their own plays to compete for important House Championship points.
