Sustainability

We have a 134‑metre living green wall along the playground at St Mary’s – the largest green wall at any school in the UK – with over 12,000 plants.  It was designed not only to beautify the site but to filter the air and create a healthier environment. The wall includes an educational herb section, a section of ivy (highly efficient at filtering pollution), and a showcase of flowers and evergreen plants, providing a wide range of benefits.  The wall acts as a sound‑proofing barrier, helping reduce traffic noise on the playground.  We also installed air purifiers in all classrooms which means our children are now breathing significantly cleaner air.  The green wall has also had a positive impact on wellbeing.  A study conducted for ARUP found that at least half of the children were more willing to spend time outside and that 86.7% of parents and staff reported increased wellbeing and feeling better about the school environment.  The green wall attracts insects and birds, increasing biodiversity and providing a living resource for pupils to learn about plants and ecology.  These features have become valuable educational tools.  The Chiswick Oasis project has been recognised for its community impact and was awarded by Hounslow Council for contributions to air quality, biodiversity and wellbeing.  Our work has inspired other schools nationwide.  The project featured in Sadiq Khan’s book, Breathe, and helped catalyse a Mayor of London programme to install air purifiers in schools across the city.