Oxfordshire Schools Sustainability Network
Bringing students and teachers together to discuss responses and solutions to sustainability CHALLENGES.
2025 - 2026 events and opportunities
OxCOP: 8th November 2025 - Oxfordshire Schools Climate Conference - hosted by Magdalen College School at Oxford Town Hall. See details here. This event is now finished. It was amazing. See the blog. To register for 2026 email lwainwright@mcsoxford.org.
Teacher meet up: 11th December 2025 - a Christmassy meet up for teachers at the Oxford University Department for Education. Networking between teachers and researchers, drinks and nibbles. 5pm - 7pm.
Student Think Tank: March 2026. Rights of Nature. Trinity College.
Student Think Tank: May 2026. Trinity College.
Nature walks for teens and their families
Join us for walks in Oxford nature hot spots to enjoy nature, learn how to use Nature ID apps, to use paper field guides, and more. You don’t have to be an OxSSN member but under 18s need to be accompanied. Email kim@oxfordearthacademy.org to book on.
Nature Walk: Saturday 28th February 2026 11:00 - 12:30 at Burgess Field Nature Reserve, accessed from Port Meadow via Aristotle Lane. Meet at the gate at the southern end of the reserve at 11am. https://maps.app.goo.gl/L8dznBCHLTSVjfVr7. Looking for signs of spring
Nature Walk: Sunday 15th March 2026 11:00 - 12:30. Wytham Woods. Meet at the main car park accessed from Wytham village. https://maps.app.goo.gl/w1FHPo2T4MYFP7T67 Looking at how the vegetation and insect life is changing as a season progresses. Guidance on using plant and bug ID apps. Introducing the use of nature identification guides to check nature sightings. Using the Merlin bird song ID app.
Nature Walk: Saturday 11th April 2026 10:00 - 11:30. Location Wytham Woods. Meet at the main car park accessed from Wytham village. https://maps.app.goo.gl/w1FHPo2T4MYFP7T67 . We’ll set up a moth trap the night before and we can see what moths we get.
Nature Walk: Sunday 17th May 2026 11:00 - 12:30. Location TBC.
Nature Walk: Saturday 7th June 2026 10:00 - 11:30. Location TBC.
Nature Walk: Sunday 5th July 2026 10:00 - 11:30. Location TBC.
"OxSSN rejuvenated my motivation for climate careers and it was really inspiring talking to university students and professionals in the field. Events like this one are so important for connecting climate movements across schools and organisations!"
"Really useful talking to students ho can tell me about various careers that they are thinking of to do with ecology and conservation. Also comforting knowing it's normal to be unsure at this point about what i want to do, and that I'll be able to drift around and try out various fields. Everyone was really friendly and encouraging" Student attending the discussions with Undergraduates in May 2024
"this was a good opportunity to get to chat with people with deep interest in climate change but in wide aspects. It shows me that climate change inter-connects with so many stuffs, emphasising the scale of its impact and the need of involvement from many stakeholders. I hope there will be more activities. Hoping that today's event will reflect that there are students that are keen on this topic and wish that they can make some changes." Student attending the May 2024 discussions with undergraduates.
EveNTS 2024-2025
18th November OxCOP - Oxfordshire Schools Climate Conference - hosted by Magdalen College School at Oxford Town Hall.
Student Think Tanks: Hear from experts and work in groups to come up with recommendations for government policies.
21th January Housing: How can we meet the UK housing need and benefit local communities and nature?
11th March Energy: How can we meet the UK energy need and benefit local communities and wildlife?
7th May Sustainable healthcare: How can we use antibiotics sustainably?
4th June Film, photography and discussion at the Weston Library
16:30-17:00 - Photography 4 Humanity: Official Dedication
The official dedication of the Photography 4 Humanity exhibition, with remarks from Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of University of Oxford, and a Senior curator from Fotografiska. No registration required, all are welcome. Location: Weston Library
17:00 - 17:30 Film and Discussion in the lecture theatre.
OxSSN students will gather for the launch of a micro documentary aimed at young people that unpacks the links between climate attribution, law, and human rights. The film has been specially commissioned for the Right Here Right Now Summit and the producers will be there to tell you about it.
This event was held in association with the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit, as part of the Oxford Local Programme of events themed around climate change, human rights, and climate justice.
Events 2023 - 2024
Managing mental health when learning about climate change
The Climate Psychologists discussed good approaches to engaging with the climate change discussions without losing your cool.
Climate communication skills and the BBC
The Climate Psychologists were back with the BBC in tow to discuss good communication skills for discussing climate issues with those who are less convinced that you are.
Oxfordshire Nature Recovery Strategy - youth consultation
Facilitators from Oxford County Council came to discuss the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy with OxSSN students and hear their views.
Meeting undergraduates
Discussions with members of the Oxford University Climate Society and Nature Conservation Society about university courses, career ideas, student societies and more.
ABOUT OxSSN
OxSSN is led by Phoebe Mortimer, Sustainability Lead for the River Learning Trust and an English teacher at Cheney School in Oxford; Megan Murray-Pepper, until recently a teacher and sustainability lead at Magdalen College School, and now independent sustainability educator; Lydia Wainwright, Sustainability Lead at Magdalen College School; and Kim Polgreen, a sustainability educator.
Our purpose is to support school students in the face of the climate and biodiversity challenge they face in their lives; to help them understand, prepare, and find a role within the future economy. We are running events to bring the students together, to share thoughts, ideas, and learning.
OxSSN is part of the award winning UKSSN which is a UK wide network of networks, currently encompassing 12 regional networks and creating fantastic opportunities for school students, enabling them to participate in the public discourse around climate and biodiversity.
We are really grateful for support from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Wolfson College, and the School of Geography and Environment.
Where and When
Meetings are usually after school, 4.15pm - 6pm. Our current indoor venue is the East Lab at the Oxford University School of Geography and Environment. The building entrance is in the University Science Area on Hinshelwood Road accessed from South Parks Road.
To get on our mailing list, email kim.polgreen@oxfordearthacademy.org.