Our Year 9 learners had the privilege of collaborating with National Grid, a British multinational electricity and gas utility company, on an exciting project exploring energy use and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in our local area.

The session kicked off with interactive warm-up discussions, where learners reflected on energy in wider society and their own lives. They took part in an activity about influential individuals, such as Jayden Smith, Akon, and Leonardo DiCaprio, who contribute to environmental improvements through their resources and influence. Learners also completed a survey on their energy consumption habits in the last 24 hours, discovering the significant energy usage involved in daily activities like showering, phone charging, and using household appliances.

Following these discussions, learners were divided into groups of four for a group challenge. Their task was to identify new locations for EV charging stations and propose EV policies for our local area. Addressing common issues with EV infrastructure, such as charging time and limited stations, learners used a map to plot 15 charging stations strategically. They also brainstormed proposals to incentivise EV usage, including ideas like providing free coffee at charging stations in partnership with Starbucks and locating charging stations near shops where customers spend longer periods, such as IKEA or Tesco.

Learners were then given the opportunity to present these ideas to the rest of the class and receive feedback on their presentations.

Maths Teacher Lena commented, 'There was great enthusiasm in the room as learners got involved in thought-provoking discussions, sharing ideas on how to save energy and explore alternative energy sources. For the EV Challenge, learners came up with creative ideas on where to locate charging points based on the demographics of the area, taking into consideration people's habits, ease of access, and the least disruption to the local community.'

These learners play a crucial role in our goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, making sessions like these invaluable as they actively contribute to finding solutions. By involving them in projects like the EV challenge, we empower them to be agents of change.