A new scheme aimed at equipping young people with the leadership skills to create positive environmental change has been pioneered by a school in Wareham, Dorset, and the first to congratulate the students was local MP Lloyd Hatton.
At a presentation on Friday 4th April 2025, all 13 pupils from The Purbeck School were awarded with their Level 3 Environment Leadership qualification after working with the National Trust on projects to improve Purbeck’s heathland.
The students spent from autumn 2024 to spring 2025 working on their projects whatever the weather!
Enrichment programme
The sixth form students achieved this environment qualification as part of the school’s enrichment programme, so had to juggle the work from autumn 2024 to spring 2025, alongside their normal A level and higher level studies.
Project work included raising dog owners’ awareness of ground nesting birds on the heath, tracking the grazing pigs, improving the visitor experience of the Purbeck Heaths, creating an Instagram account to help communication with the public, as well as tree and bramble planting.
The Purbeck School head of sixth form Simon Holmes said:
“This was one of the more demanding of the enrichment programme options – we like to offer a nice range of choices, as this helps develop students’ soft skills.
“So this has really supplemented what we already offer and it was great to work with the National Trust, which part-funded the qualification.”
Arty dogs were created by the team and Wareham Primary School pupils to increase awareness of dog owners to the nesting birds on the heath
The Arty Dog team: Stephen, Llewellyn, Natalia, Suzie and Darcy
“Discover new areas of heathland”
Students taking part were enthusiastic about the scheme, many already having a passion for the outdoors and the environment.
Suzie, who was part of the team who worked with young children painting wooden shapes of dogs, said:
“It was really fun and great to go into the primary school – we were a bit surprised with the number of young children who wanted to get involved but it all worked out well in the end.
“I was pleased that on one occasion we managed to plant 200 trees in about half an hour – we actually ended up running out of trees to plant!
“It was enjoyable taking part in the scheme alongside a nice group of friends.”
Harry added:
“I’ve been involved in Scouts for the last 12 years so I already do a lot of outdoor stuff. The course was good at getting everyone out into the environment.
“You know if you take people to the top of a mountain, they will like the view – the challenge is to get people to the top of the mountain in the first place!
“On the course, we all managed to discover new areas of the heathland which we didn’t already know about, even people like me who like to explore.”
The lead duo on the tree and bramble planting, Amelie and Josh with MP Lloyd Hatton (left)
Tracking the grazing pigs: Fraser, Owen, Ed and Harry
“Next generation of pioneers”
The special invited guest was Lloyd Hatton MP for South Dorset, who was a little off his patch but was pleased to come and see the school which provides education for pupils who do live in his constituency.
It was also a bit of an old school reunion as The Purbeck School headteacher Adam Darley actually taught Lloyd history and politics.
Addressing the students, Lloyd said:
“It’s fantastic to see the next generation of pioneers wanting to enhance the natural beauty of what is on our doorstep – a new generation of people who understand what we have got here and why it is so special.
“One of the most exciting things I did recently was to release a pair of beavers into the wild in Studland. It’s good to see the National Trust working with me and you to boost bio diversity.
“There’s a clear sense this is just the start and I can see you are already asking, ‘How can I keep learning?’
“I want you to keep bothering me and the National Trust as you continue to give a lot to our natural environment and our community. This is not the end!”
Getting out of the classroom and into nature
MP Lloyd Hatton (left) with the visitor experience team Dobrochna and Amy, alongside Jill Bailey from the National Trust (right)
“Their enthusiasm rubbed off on me”
Inspiring the students was Jill Bailey, a former school teacher, who led the programme for the National Trust. The school was keen to thank her for all her hard work and keeping the scheme on track.
As this was the first time that the National Trust had run this Level 3 Environment Leadership award, there was a lot of work to set up the projects, so did Jill enjoy it all as much as the students? Jill said:
“It was a real pleasure and as I have just left a teaching role, it was great to be able to reconnect with students.
“I think we are planning to do it all again, as well as offering the Level 1 and Level 2 awards for younger pupils lower down the school. There’s also the potential to roll it out to other schools in Purbeck.
“I’ve seen these students grow so much in confidence, develop in character and increase their maturity bu just taking them out into the Purbeck landscape.
“Seeing their enthusiasm for tasks like tracking the grazing pigs was inspiring and their enthusiasm rubbed off on me, as well as their peer group!”
Getting inspiration outdoors
The Purbeck School, a secondary school in Wareham, Dorset
Further information
- Follow coastside_connections on Instagram
- More about The Purbeck School
- Find out about the Leadership Skills Foundation
- National Trust and the Purbeck Heaths
