Eco-conscious students receive standing ovation at Sheffield Town Hall after presenting litter petition

The students, who are in Year 10 and Year 11 at Fir Vale School, spoke about recycling and how important the climate agenda is to them during their first trip to Sheffield Town Hall on Wednesday, February 5.

More than just an opportunity to visit the building, they witnessed local democracy in action and got involved by debating their own views on issues including recycling the Fir Vale area, litter, having respect for the environment and also respect for themselves.

The visit formed part of their school work, in which they have been studying petitions and their environment in citizenship lessons.

Coun Abtisam Mohamed, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “It is very rare that we give standing ovations but this is a tribute to how eloquently and passionately they spoke. Fir Vale School should be very proud of how well they were represented by all of the students who have attended”.

During the meeting, they presented their recycling petition to Mark Jones, cabinet member for environment, who said he will look into setting up a 'bring-it' type of recycling site in collaboration with the school.

Nadia Rahman, deputy head of Year 11, added: “It was honestly a pleasure and heart filling to know this will stay with our students for a long time and they can feed back to their peers about the amazing experience they had.”