Holme Grange School’s Mock COP29: Empowering Future Leaders for Climate Action
On 15th November 2024, Holme Grange hosted its 4th Mock COP, bringing climate education to life with hands-on experiences and global negotiation simulations. Building on past successes, the event continues embedding sustainability into the school’s DNA, empowering students to tackle pressing climate issues with ambition and responsibility.
As world leaders meet at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Holme Grange’s Mock COP offered students their own version of this summit. Delegates explored global challenges while inspiring local action.
We welcomed students from schools including t. Crispin’s, Garth Hill, Charters, Leighton Park, Little Heath, Kings Academy and St. Mary’s Shinfield. Senior students acted as international delegates, tackling key issues and resolutions, while Year 6 pupils from St Mary’s Shinfield joined Holme Grange for workshops, showing collective responsibility for climate action.
The event featured Global Negotiations, with sessions on Enhancing Ambition and Actions and Resolutions, and a Climate Action Fayre, Question Time, and reflections.
Facilitators from InterClimate Network, and Professor Chris Merchant, a specialist in Ocean and Earth Observation at the University of Reading, guided students with creativity and collaboration.
While senior students led negotiations, the rest of Holme Grange—from EYFS to Year 11—immersed themselves in workshops exploring themes from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We were also grateful for the support of local businesses and organisations, including Maya’s Refillables, Repair Café, What on Earth, Thomas Franks, Mini Nature Artists and the University of Estates Management, whose practical expertise enriched the day.
During the hands on workshops, the students got the opportunity to build bird boxes out of donated materials, bio cars out of compostable polystyrene, and mini nature artists took the younger school pupils for a foraging trail to build homes for a forest animal of choice.
At Holme Grange, we remain committed to fostering courage, commitment, and aspiration in our pupils, empowering them to lead with integrity and make a meaningful impact. Mock COP29 was not only an opportunity to educate students about climate challenges but also a chance to equip them with tools to take actionable steps for a better future.
This year’s Mock COP reinforced that meaningful change begins with education and collective action. By embedding sustainability into the heart of our school, Holme Grange is nurturing the next generation of climate leaders—young individuals ready to turn global challenges into local opportunities and drive a sustainable future.
