Oceans of talent - Gwernyfed pupils shine in climate awards

17 July 2025

A south Powys secondary school has been congratulated by the county council after winning a prestigious national environmental award.

Gwernyfed High School's Eco-Club was crowned winner of the Revive Our Oceans category at the 2025 Climate Challenge Cymru Awards, recognising the pupils' creative and committed efforts to protect marine life and raise awareness of ocean conservation.

Climate Challenge Cymru is a national innovation competition for schools across Wales, inspired by The Earthshot Prize. It encourages pupils to develop and share imaginative solutions to global environmental challenges through short video submissions.

The initiative is delivered by Keep Wales Tidy's Eco-Schools Wales team, in partnership with the Welsh Government, and aims to empower young people to take meaningful climate action in their schools and communities.

The awards ceremony, held in Cardiff on 25 June 2025, brought together schools from across the country and featured keynote speeches from First Minister Eluned Morgan and Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who praised the innovation and passion of young people leading the fight against climate change.

Gwernyfed's entry stood out among hundreds submitted by schools across Wales, earning the Eco-Club a place in the national final and ultimately securing the top spot in the Revive Our Oceans category.

The team impressed judges with their thoughtful and practical ideas to reduce ocean pollution and promote marine conservation. Their efforts were recognised at the ceremony, where they were presented with a trophy and certificate by Future Generations Commissioner Derek Walker, in front of an audience of peers, educators, and environmental leaders.

Members of the school's Eco-Club also shared their thoughts on their success:

Megan said: "We really enjoyed the competition, creating the video and the poster. This competition has inspired us to do even more to help our school environment, and seeing what other schools have done has given us lots of ideas. We are really happy to have had this opportunity."

Fleur commented: "'A completely unforgettable experience. The hard work, and fun, leading up to the competition was amazing. The event was utterly inspiring. I found it interesting to see new ideas and meet like-minded people who care for our environment."

Sorcha added, "Entering the Climate Change Cymru competition wasn't about winning, but looking at how we can help our environment. Winning was an amazing outcome for us. It was nice to get the recognition for what we are trying to achieve and reassured us we are making a difference."

Cllr Pete Roberts, Powys County Council's Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: "This is a remarkable achievement for Gwernyfed High School and a shining example of the power of youth-led climate action. The Eco-Club's passion, creativity and teamwork are truly inspiring. We are incredibly proud of their success and the positive message it sends to schools across Powys.

"Credit must also go to the wider school community for nurturing a strong culture of environmental responsibility. This award reflects not only the pupils' dedication but also the school's commitment to empowering young people to lead the way in tackling the climate and nature emergencies."

Mrs Sian Jenkins, Interim Headteacher at Gwernyfed High School, said: "We are really proud of our creative, innovative, and amazing Eco-Club pupils at Gwernyfed High School. Their passion for protecting our oceans is truly inspiring. Together, we can work collaboratively to secure a brighter future for our planet and make a positive impact on the environment.

"We celebrate our students' achievements and look forward to their continued dedication."

For more information about the competition, visit Keep Wales Tidy.