November 4, 2021

Ready for COP26

As COP26 gets well underway, a select group of our Sixth Formers are putting together their final preparations to attend the Climate Change Conference as student journalists and videographers.

Having been given the brief to create a short documentary telling their peers and teachers what the future holds following the globally critical event, the group continue to receive advice and insider knowledge from a number of sustainably minded Old Leightonians.

Following a successful training session with Climate Science Journalist, Ayesha Tandon and Interpretation Developer at the Natural History Museum, Lottie Dodwell, the students welcomed the useful guidance of New York Bureau Chief for Feature Story News, Will Denselow.

First and foremost, Will touched on a practical point which despite its simplicity, helped students to ground themselves amidst the prospect of mingling amongst the trailblazers and teams making the decisions that will impact our future. “Never report on an empty stomach! This was the first thing I was taught in journalism and I couldn’t agree more.” shared Will.

Noting the importance of planning, Will went on to discuss their steps before the event: “I think it’s important to start any assignment with a clear idea of what you want to get out of it – that means the interviews you want to get, the footage you want to capture and a sense of the story you want to tell. At an event like COP26 where there are a million different story ideas to potentially follow and people to talk to, having a clear sense of what your piece is focused on will help streamline the news gathering process.”

Further useful advice from the journalist included, “Get to know your [filming] gear and practise before you head out” and “Make sure you really listen to the answers you’re given. You might have a sense of what they will say but it’s important to pick up on points you might not have expected or things that need further elaboration.”

Back on the Park, the Arts are also being used to inspire local primary school children to understand the importance of climate activism. Respectively, students and staff will deliver a series of Art and Drama workshops from Tuesday 9th – Friday 12th November. These events will see pupils collaborating on a giant jigsaw installation entitled ‘Together for our Planet’ and watching an exclusive performance of ‘Uniting the World’.

Whilst the curriculum continues to reflect topical issues in Geography, Psychology and CAS classes, outside of lessons the School looks forward to unveiling a COP26 student-led exhibition, to be accompanied by a mock-UN debate on key issues surrounding climate change.

Check out more photos from our COP26 activities!

How can we help?

Take the next step by selecting an option below, or if you want to drop us a quick message, you can do so with the form.

Shinfield Road
Reading
Berkshire, UK
RG2 7DE
+44 (0) 118 987 9600
Request a prospectus Arrange a visit Make an application
Contact Us
I agree with your terms & conditions and privacy policy *
I would like to receive updates from Leighton Park, including updates about upcoming events